I am writing with regards to pavement parking in Market Mead, Chippenham. We, the residents of Market Mead, are finding an increasing number of cars parked irresponsibly on the pavements which can cause a potentially dangerous obstruction for pedestrians as it can force them onto the road and into the path of vehicles.

Newly released research by YouGov has shown that three quarters (74 per cent) of people are affected by vehicles parked on the pavement. Some groups, including people living with sight loss, older people or those with buggies, are at greater risk.

Ninety-one per cent of respondents living with sight loss who responded to a Guide Dogs survey said that parked cars on the pavement regularly obstruct them.

You can see how dangerous pavement parking can be in real-life video footage, filmed from a guide dog’s view, of a guide dog and their owner having to go out into the road to get around a car at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMQt-cfEFsg In addition to the hazard for pedestrians, we have been advised by the local council that our rubbish will not be collected if the road is obstructed, and more importantly an emergency service vehicle such as a fire engine would not be able to gain access to the properties in our road.

This could potentially lead to the loss of a life.

Unfortunately the local council are not interested in addressing this matter and neither are the police.

Will it take a pedestrian being run over because they are unable to use the pavement or someone to die in a house fire, before someone in authority takes this seriously?

I am urging the public to ensure they don’t park on the pavement.

DENISE DALGETTY Chippenham