EAST Lancashire pavement parkers could face action if parliamentary recommendations are passed into law.

Earlier this year, a Parliamentary select committee began a review on the issue, which is currently a grey area and only totally banned in London.

Following the completion of the review, they are now asking the Government to consider a blanket ban.

Pavement parking caused problems in Blackburn earlier this year outside burger restaurant Frankie’s and PureGym in the town centre and in Whalley Range.

In March Cllr Hussain Akhtar was photographed with his BMW parked across a footpath in Whalley Range and the previous month fellow councillor Salim Sidat’s Jaguar was pictured on the pavement in front of Frankie’s.

Both would have contravened current laws.

Outside the capital, it is illegal for large lorries; where it obstructs the pavement, wheelchairs, prams, pushchairs, and pedestrians; and when used to avoid yellow lines and other restrictions.

Speaking at the time the investigation was launched, Cllr Phil Riley said: “This inquiry is welcome but any proposed law changes need to take account of narrow terraced streets found across Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire built long before there were so many cars.

“On these it may be necessary to park on the pavement, or partly on the footpath, for road safety reasons and to allow traffic flow.

“We also have to take account of the elderly, disabled, the partially-sighted and those with prams.

"The parking outside Frankie’s and PureGym clearly obstructed the pavement."

National council chiefs backed Cllr Riley's call for legislation to allow local authorities to create exemptions if they want to.

Responding to a report by the Transport Select Committee which calls for an outright ban on pavement parking across England, Local Government Association transport spokesman, Cllr David Renard, said: “We are pleased that the Committee has joined the LGA in recommending an extension to the ban on pavement parking to all areas of England.

“Pavement parking and damaged pavements is one of the biggest complaints from pedestrians – and not just in London. Similarly, repairing kerbs and pavements damaged by pavement parking is expensive and this funding could be better used to repair potholes and provide more suitable parking.

“We urge government to bring forward legislation to ban pavement parking, with councils able to create exemptions if they want to, and steps to facilitate a transition to a new law, at the earliest opportunity.”