Has the UK government considered how maintenance contractors, electricians, builders, plumbers heating installers, kitchen installers, or any other tradesmen, who need to use vehicles to carry power tools and equipment, will be affected by a nationwide pavement parking ban? London has had a pavement ban for years but now it’s being reported that the government is consulting on extending it nationwide1.
In London, anyone caught parking on a pavement faces a £70 fine. Under reported proposals the Department for Transport is considering extending the right to prevent parking on pavements to local authorities. The government expects to complete its consultation later on in 2018. If the nationwide ban goes ahead it could mean a £70 fine might apply for illegal parking on pavements in England and Wales. Scotland is also considering bringing in a similar ban.
Consultees have included motoring organisations the AA and the RAC. Amongst other things, it has been suggested that a blanket pavement parking ban would not be in everyone’s interests and could the ban be selective? In many instances sensible parking on suitably wide pavements need not cause other pavement users any inconvenience.
Currently, tradesmen need to park their vans as close as possible to the jobsite. This way they can have easy access to everything they need for the job. Carrying multiple heavy power tools, hand tool, parts and all the other equipment they need over short distances as and when they are needed is all part of the job. Parking on the pavement is often the only option for parking near to a job. Town car parks can be long distances from where tools, parts and equipment are needed.
When it’s not possible to park near the jobsite tradesmen have to make a choice: do they unload what they think they'll need in the way of power tools, hand tools, equipment and parts etc; in which case they risk forgetting some things and wasting significant time not actually working on the job while having to walk to the van which may be parked some distance away, or, do they spend lots of time unloading almost everything from the van and carrying it to the jobsite to be sure they've got what they need before parking away from the jobsite?
Either way, tradesmen could be forced to waste much more valuable time and energy carrying, unloading and loading all their power tools, hand tools, parts and equipment from their vans than they currently do and on top of that they could soon also risk a £70 fine. Carrying power tools can be time-consuming and waring enough as it is but it's likely to get a whole lot worse if a pavement parking ban comes into force nationwide.
Perhaps someone should consider inventing an easy to carry power tools solution all in one case....Perhaps someone has - KwikPro. Take a look at www.kwikprotools.com
With KwikPro power tool systems, all the professional-grade power tools needed for most jobs are easily accessible in one easy to carry case. So unloading and carrying will be a whole lot quicker making the process easier, even if the vehicle has to be parked-up a long distance away.
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1 https://inews.co.uk/essentials/lifestyle/cars/car-news/drivers-face-70-fine-for-fine-parking-on-the-pavement/