A COMMUNITY council has hit out over the increasing issue of pavement parking in the local area.

Members of Silverton and Overtoun Community Council (SOCC) say that the issue has gotten “considerably” worse in the past three to six months.

Linda Speirs, vice-chair of SOCC, said that feedback from a questionnaire given out to the community showed that parking was the main area they wanted to see improved.

Linda said: “We asked residents what their thoughts were about the area and where they thought improvements could be made and at the top of the list was actually parking in general, pavements and the state of the roads.

“Quite a number of people have expressed their concerns and angst about the degree of pavement parking.”

Linda explained that the issue is not so much with parking on the pavement partially but with parking fully on the pavement preventing pedestrians from passing which she feels is a hazard.

She added: “People don’t have complaints about cars being partially on the pavement, it’s the fact they are fully on pavements.

“This has resulted in people having to actually walk in the road as there is no way past.

“We are sympathetic to the public where there are streets in Dumbarton where people have no option but to park on the pavement, we do acknowledge that.

“It’s the fact that people are occupying the whole of the pavement on either side. However, we’re also aware of residencies where people have garages, driveways, etc where they’re not using them, they’re still parking their cars on the pavement.”

SOCC have launched a campaign to tackle the issue

SOCC have launched a campaign to tackle the issue

SOCC is looking to highlight the impact that pavement parking is reportedly having on those with sight loss, those in wheelchairs or who use walking aids as well as people with prams.

Linda has partial vision in one eye and says that she is “very, very nervous” about having to potentially step on to the road whilst out walking.

She said: “I don’t drive at the moment and I’m out walking my dog a lot. I’m quite nervous now out walking if I’m going along a road where I’ve got to step onto the road as I’ve got sight in one eye and partial sight in the other.

“So I’m very, very nervous about stepping on to the road.”

Rona Wilkinson, chair of SOCC claimed “there isn’t really a need to park on the pavement unless it’s an emergency”.

SOCC launched its own campaign to tackle the issue two months ago and have since reached out to Police Scotland in an effort to address it.