A Bedford Borough councillor has raised concerns about drivers repeatedly parking on grass verges and driving over public footpaths to reach front gardens.
They warned that this is damaging public land and causing tensions between neighbours.
The issue was raised by cllr Carl Meader (Labour, Kempston South) during this week’s Full Council meeting on Wednesday (4 February).
“We have problems relating to residents parking on grass verges,” he said, “Many residents will argue there is nowhere else for them to park, which has to be a consideration, but it’s something that needs to be addressed.
“This time of year, the problem is intensified due to grass verges being churned up and turned into mud baths. It’s a problem that’s not going awa,y and it’s actually getting worse.”
Cllr Meader also highlighted the “growing issue” of residents who frequently drive over pavements and verges to park directly outside their homes, often in front gardens.
“I have spoken to several residents who consistently do this, and the response I always get is they prefer their vehicles to be closer to their properties for security reasons,
“And they think they are doing everyone a favour by taking their vehicles off the road.
“This is about residents who have paid substantial amounts of money, in most cases, to this local authority to have their curbs dropped so they can legally drive over the footpath and gain access to the front of their homes.
He warned that this is creating tensions with residents “who have gone through the proper channels” and paid for dropped kerbs so they could legally access their property.
“I just feel sorry for the people that do the right thing, and the people who do the wrong thing are just being ignored,” he said.
In response, cllr Nicola Gribble (Independent, Renhold and Ravensden ward), the portfolio holder for environment, said she shared his concerns.
“It breaks my heart to see these verges chewed up,” she said, adding that she would speak with highways officers about whether “any enforcement action could be taken.
She noted that some parts of the borough already operate a “blanket no verge parking” approach and said she would look at how this could be implemented more widely.
Cllr Gribble also acknowledged the problem of residents driving over footpaths and verges to access front gardens.
“I am fully aware that some law-abiding people will pay for a drop kerb, etc,” she said, “What I’m going to do is have a word with our highways [team] and see if there’s any enforcement we can do.
“It does ruin our grass verges, it creates more work for our ground staff as well, and it looks dreadful, and it’s not fair,” she said.
Parking on grass verges is not automatically illegal, but councils and police can act where it causes obstruction or damage.
The Highway Code (Rule 244) advises motorists not to park on pavements, and driving across footways without an authorised dropped kerb may breach the law, including by driving on the footway.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
