Danger warning over cars on pavement in Darwen

1:00pm Tuesday 20th November 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

Paul Harrison outside shops in Blackburn Road Paul Harrison outside shops in Blackburn Road

A COUNCILLOR has called for action over cars parking on the pavement on Darwen’s main road after concerns were raised that someone could get hurt.

Coun Paul Browne said cars parking on the pavement in Blackburn Road, close to Snape Street and Cavendish Street where the shops are set back, were a danger. The call came after a man said he and his six-year-old son could have been injured when a driver pulled out from the pavement as they were crossing the road.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands the land in front of the shops belongs to the shop owners, entitling them to park outside if they wish.

But the latest incident means police are looking into the safety of the area.

Coun Browne, who lives in nearby Greenway Street, said: “They park all along the pavement around there and it is ridiculous. I don’t think they should be allowed to park there, but I spoke to someone at the council and they said the fronts belong to the shops.

“This was a near-miss but it could have been so much worse.”

Paul Harrison, 42, of Blackburn Road, said his son Blake could have been hurt when a driver used the fact that the pedestrian crossing had stopped traffic to turn around.

He said: “When we got to the crossing there were two cars parked completely on the pavement outside the shops.

“It was busy traffic, so I pressed the button and waited for the green man.

“When it changed for us to cross, a driver who had been parked on the pavement started to cross the road behind us and turn around. I had my son with me. If the driver’s foot had slipped, it would have been a different story.”

Mr Harrison said he had reported the incident to the police.

He added: “It should be safe for children going across the road. If there was a gang of kids going across on their own and something happened, it would be a tragedy.”

Comments (20)

1:27pm Tue 20 Nov 12

useyourhead says...

Moan moan moan!
-
Is there a big history of accidents?
-
it seems they have all mucked along perfectly well until now.
-
Sometimes we have to ask are we better to spend time and energy teaching kids about spacial awareness and there own responsibilities for certain aspects of their self preservation, or just bladdy well bubble wrap and disinfect the world before they get there?
Moan moan moan! - Is there a big history of accidents? - it seems they have all mucked along perfectly well until now. - Sometimes we have to ask are we better to spend time and energy teaching kids about spacial awareness and there own responsibilities for certain aspects of their self preservation, or just bladdy well bubble wrap and disinfect the world before they get there? useyourhead

1:29pm Tue 20 Nov 12

useyourhead says...

Moan moan moan!
-
Is there a big history of accidents?
-
it seems they have all mucked along perfectly well until now.
-
Sometimes we have to ask are we better to spend time and energy teaching kids about spacial awareness and there own responsibilities for certain aspects of their self preservation, or just bladdy well bubble wrap and disinfect the world before they get there?
Moan moan moan! - Is there a big history of accidents? - it seems they have all mucked along perfectly well until now. - Sometimes we have to ask are we better to spend time and energy teaching kids about spacial awareness and there own responsibilities for certain aspects of their self preservation, or just bladdy well bubble wrap and disinfect the world before they get there? useyourhead

2:02pm Tue 20 Nov 12

halfhearted says...

The shops will not own all the land in front. There will be a designated pavement,it is an offence to drive on the pavement so the Police should take the appropriate action.
If they fail to do so,contact the newly apponted Police Commisioner,that what he's paid for and not the local newspaper.
Sorry,Councillor,you won't get your photo slashed all over if you do that.
The shops will not own all the land in front. There will be a designated pavement,it is an offence to drive on the pavement so the Police should take the appropriate action. If they fail to do so,contact the newly apponted Police Commisioner,that what he's paid for and not the local newspaper. Sorry,Councillor,you won't get your photo slashed all over if you do that. halfhearted

2:13pm Tue 20 Nov 12

b12simon says...

"Sorry,Councillor,yo
u won't get your photo slashed all over if you do that."

I can't think of a single situation where I'd want my photo slashed all over. Good job I'm not a councillor.
"Sorry,Councillor,yo u won't get your photo slashed all over if you do that." I can't think of a single situation where I'd want my photo slashed all over. Good job I'm not a councillor. b12simon

3:31pm Tue 20 Nov 12

mavrick says...

Big fuss about now't.
Big fuss about now't. mavrick

7:36pm Tue 20 Nov 12

BuckoTheMoose says...

There seems to be a lot of could haves, might haves and what ifs in that story.

We could come up with hypothetical situations for anything. I reckon this chap just wants his fifteen minutes (And he's using his kid to get it).

There's nothing wrong with parking in that area. One minor mishap that didn't even cause an issue is not even worthy of the story, never mind a call to ban parking there.
There seems to be a lot of could haves, might haves and what ifs in that story. We could come up with hypothetical situations for anything. I reckon this chap just wants his fifteen minutes (And he's using his kid to get it). There's nothing wrong with parking in that area. One minor mishap that didn't even cause an issue is not even worthy of the story, never mind a call to ban parking there. BuckoTheMoose

7:40pm Tue 20 Nov 12

mrh001 says...

lets just get a few facts straight.....if you go to a crossing,with your child and learn them about this being a safe area to cross....wait for the lights to change etc.... how would you feel if a vehicle suddenly came from behind you and followed you across the crossing!!!! frightning a small child!!!! this is supposed to be a crossing for the public!!! NOT cars.....the stupidity of the driver is unreal......suppose there foot had slipped off the clutch and run the child down???? then it would be a different story and you would be going on about the stupid actions of a driver!!..
lets just get a few facts straight.....if you go to a crossing,with your child and learn them about this being a safe area to cross....wait for the lights to change etc.... how would you feel if a vehicle suddenly came from behind you and followed you across the crossing!!!! frightning a small child!!!! this is supposed to be a crossing for the public!!! NOT cars.....the stupidity of the driver is unreal......suppose there foot had slipped off the clutch and run the child down???? then it would be a different story and you would be going on about the stupid actions of a driver!!.. mrh001

7:45pm Tue 20 Nov 12

Mothernature says...

Aargh, you do not learn someone, you TEACH them. That's why teachers are called teachers, because they teach.
Aargh, you do not learn someone, you TEACH them. That's why teachers are called teachers, because they teach. Mothernature

7:49pm Tue 20 Nov 12

mrh001 says...

i'm the "CHAP"..your on about in the story....if you think that it's just for fame...."buckothemoo
se"....think again....the fact is my son and i were nearly knocked down on a crossing by a person trying to do a "u" turn off the pavement, on the crossing to avoid the long line of traffic at 8.40 in a morning....my son is scared of that crossing now...because he thinks a car will come from behind again.....he is 6 years old...!!
i'm the "CHAP"..your on about in the story....if you think that it's just for fame...."buckothemoo se"....think again....the fact is my son and i were nearly knocked down on a crossing by a person trying to do a "u" turn off the pavement, on the crossing to avoid the long line of traffic at 8.40 in a morning....my son is scared of that crossing now...because he thinks a car will come from behind again.....he is 6 years old...!! mrh001

8:11pm Tue 20 Nov 12

sen c ble says...

mrh001 wrote:
i'm the "CHAP"..your on about in the story....if you think that it's just for fame...."buckothemoo

se"....think again....the fact is my son and i were nearly knocked down on a crossing by a person trying to do a "u" turn off the pavement, on the crossing to avoid the long line of traffic at 8.40 in a morning....my son is scared of that crossing now...because he thinks a car will come from behind again.....he is 6 years old...!!
Your son may well be 6, but much older than the trollers on this page!
[quote][p][bold]mrh001[/bold] wrote: i'm the "CHAP"..your on about in the story....if you think that it's just for fame...."buckothemoo se"....think again....the fact is my son and i were nearly knocked down on a crossing by a person trying to do a "u" turn off the pavement, on the crossing to avoid the long line of traffic at 8.40 in a morning....my son is scared of that crossing now...because he thinks a car will come from behind again.....he is 6 years old...!![/p][/quote]Your son may well be 6, but much older than the trollers on this page! sen c ble

8:45pm Tue 20 Nov 12

useyourhead says...

mrh001 wrote:
i'm the "CHAP"..your on about in the story....if you think that it's just for fame...."buckothemoo

se"....think again....the fact is my son and i were nearly knocked down on a crossing by a person trying to do a "u" turn off the pavement, on the crossing to avoid the long line of traffic at 8.40 in a morning....my son is scared of that crossing now...because he thinks a car will come from behind again.....he is 6 years old...!!
your beating the wrong path though surely? Idiot drivers occur everywhere, it seems you and your son where unfortunately the victim of just such a cretin, but to say the whole system there is not fit for purpose because of it is unjustifiable, start a campaign against bad drivers instead.
-
I hope your son is alright too, please tell him that most drivers don't behave like that and not to be too afraid.
[quote][p][bold]mrh001[/bold] wrote: i'm the "CHAP"..your on about in the story....if you think that it's just for fame...."buckothemoo se"....think again....the fact is my son and i were nearly knocked down on a crossing by a person trying to do a "u" turn off the pavement, on the crossing to avoid the long line of traffic at 8.40 in a morning....my son is scared of that crossing now...because he thinks a car will come from behind again.....he is 6 years old...!![/p][/quote]your beating the wrong path though surely? Idiot drivers occur everywhere, it seems you and your son where unfortunately the victim of just such a cretin, but to say the whole system there is not fit for purpose because of it is unjustifiable, start a campaign against bad drivers instead. - I hope your son is alright too, please tell him that most drivers don't behave like that and not to be too afraid. useyourhead

10:18pm Tue 20 Nov 12

mrh001 says...

i take on board what your saying "useyourhead", maybe one or two people have missed the point about the article... pavements are ment to be for the public, roads are ment for cars.....there is obviously a boundry to be drawn about vehicles having rights to park on there own property....but if you have young children who should be safe on a pavement and cross busy main roads, at the correct crossing locations, without idiots taking advantage of a quick exit through the busy traffic, just to get in front.....using a public crossing endangering peoples lives... something needs to be done.
if (god forbid) it went another way and the person in question had lost control of there vehicle the news paper heading may have been " car mows down father and son at a crossing"... what would be the reaction of some of the peoples comments on here.
i take on board what your saying "useyourhead", maybe one or two people have missed the point about the article... pavements are ment to be for the public, roads are ment for cars.....there is obviously a boundry to be drawn about vehicles having rights to park on there own property....but if you have young children who should be safe on a pavement and cross busy main roads, at the correct crossing locations, without idiots taking advantage of a quick exit through the busy traffic, just to get in front.....using a public crossing endangering peoples lives... something needs to be done. if (god forbid) it went another way and the person in question had lost control of there vehicle the news paper heading may have been " car mows down father and son at a crossing"... what would be the reaction of some of the peoples comments on here. mrh001

11:16pm Tue 20 Nov 12

Major Tom says...

Bone idle people will park anywhere regardless of mental or physical ability. Look at the cashpoint cripples who would rather see a disabled person struggle to a cashpoint rather than they walk as nature intended. They're sadistic, selfish, and knuckle-dragging breeders.
Bone idle people will park anywhere regardless of mental or physical ability. Look at the cashpoint cripples who would rather see a disabled person struggle to a cashpoint rather than they walk as nature intended. They're sadistic, selfish, and knuckle-dragging breeders. Major Tom

8:20am Wed 21 Nov 12

CapitaBackHander says...

Thanks for wasting the polices time. Nothing happened.you went to papers YAWN
Thanks for wasting the polices time. Nothing happened.you went to papers YAWN CapitaBackHander

9:15am Wed 21 Nov 12

mrh001 says...

"capitabackhander"..
....your opinion.....differen
t if we had been run over though!!! eh........
"capitabackhander".. ....your opinion.....differen t if we had been run over though!!! eh........ mrh001

11:07am Wed 21 Nov 12

Rishtonian says...

If you have a driveway to your house then you need to drive over pavement to get to your property
So what is the argument
Get a life
If you have a driveway to your house then you need to drive over pavement to get to your property So what is the argument Get a life Rishtonian

11:10am Wed 21 Nov 12

Rishtonian says...

You would be better banning cyclist from pavement they are more of a hassard
You would be better banning cyclist from pavement they are more of a hassard Rishtonian

11:31am Wed 21 Nov 12

mrh001 says...

"rishtonian" i have a life my friend....no need to get personal is there....obviously you completely missed the point about the whole thing!!!!......so what your saying is that it is ok for a driver to drive on a crossing behind children...and nearly running them down..do you have kids?? would you not mind waiting at a trafic light crossing on a busy main road, and a vehicle follows you across, just to beat the trafic cues!!!...
"rishtonian" i have a life my friend....no need to get personal is there....obviously you completely missed the point about the whole thing!!!!......so what your saying is that it is ok for a driver to drive on a crossing behind children...and nearly running them down..do you have kids?? would you not mind waiting at a trafic light crossing on a busy main road, and a vehicle follows you across, just to beat the trafic cues!!!... mrh001

5:16pm Thu 22 Nov 12

diddybond says...

The police cant discriminate. Have a look up and down the streets of Darwen and you will find cars actually parked on the Pavements, these people are driving over the pavement edge to park outside there shop and on there land.
It is a drivers responsibility to drive with care and consideration, we have to remember that when we cross the road, there is always a risk, because we cant control the drivers actions. If there is a risk then I'm afraid the crossing needs to be moved. You could ban all the people from parking at the front of the shops but it wont stop someone getting run over by a stupid driver!!
The police cant discriminate. Have a look up and down the streets of Darwen and you will find cars actually parked on the Pavements, these people are driving over the pavement edge to park outside there shop and on there land. It is a drivers responsibility to drive with care and consideration, we have to remember that when we cross the road, there is always a risk, because we cant control the drivers actions. If there is a risk then I'm afraid the crossing needs to be moved. You could ban all the people from parking at the front of the shops but it wont stop someone getting run over by a stupid driver!! diddybond

7:59pm Sun 25 Nov 12

lwg76 says...

The cars were not parked on pavements they were on private land. If you would care to look at the picture the Pavement is tarmacked, the private parking is block paved, and if the driver is not allowed to cross that part of the carriageway set apart for pedestrian use, why have the Council provided drop kerbs other than at the crossing.
The cars were not parked on pavements they were on private land. If you would care to look at the picture the Pavement is tarmacked, the private parking is block paved, and if the driver is not allowed to cross that part of the carriageway set apart for pedestrian use, why have the Council provided drop kerbs other than at the crossing. lwg76

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