'We face hostility and car damage from those blocking us in with their cars'

13 hours ago

Raj Kaur Bilkhuin Small Heath

News image — Cars parked on the pavement on Malmesbury Road in Small Heath, Birmingham

BBC Cars parked on the side of the road and on the pavement on a residential street. — Cars parked on the pavement on Malmesbury Road in Small Heath, Birmingham

Cars blocking in other cars, obstructing pavements or parking on double-yellow lines, have become the norm in some neighbourhoods.

It's a "terrible situation" that is getting "worse every year" in some parts of Birmingham, residents say.

The densely populated streets surrounded by businesses, schools and places of worship, add to the congestion.

Birmingham City Council said it would "keep reviewing enforcement presence in areas where problems persist".

A man wearing a grey hoodie and beige jacket stands on the pavement, looking into the camera. Cars can be seen parked on the road behind him. — Resident, Yousef Hassan, described parking in the area as "horrendous"

Every morning feels like a lottery for Yousef Hassan, who lives in the Small Heath area of Birmingham.

"If someone has double parked next to my car, blocking me in, I have to go door-to-door asking neighbours if it's their car," he said.

"It's horrendous."

Pam – not her real name – lives next to a mosque.

"We are the minority on our road, so when we have spoken to those blocking our car in, we've faced hostility and damage to our car," she said.

A woman wearing a light pink hijab and black coat stands in front of school gates. A car can be seen parked on the pavement behind her. — Primary school head tacher Shahista Zamir described double parking as "hazardous"

The school run is one of the worst times of the day.

Shahista Zamir, head teacher at Regents Park Community School, says the "double parking is hazardous" because many pupils "aren't tall enough to be spotted by drivers".

"It means our children's lives are put at risk," she added.

Some residents, like Irfan Ali, believe garages are clogging up the streets.

'Have to walk in road'

"Cars are always parked on double-yellow lines and nobody comes around to issue any tickets. There are cars that are abandoned and left here for months. It's getting worse every year," he said.

Another resident, Sham, is worried for his mum who lives in Small Heath.

"School children, parents with pushchairs, elders or those in wheelchairs are struggling to walk on pavements because they're blocked, so they're having to walk on the road, which is very dangerous," he explained.

Two men stand on the corner of a residential street. One is wearing a grey hoodie and blue puffer jacket, while the other has a dark fleece top on. There is a crossroads behind them, showing cars parked on a pavement. — Some residents, like Irfan Ali and Sham, said the situation was getting worse

Birmingham councillor Majid Mahmood said: "Double parking is an issue we are aware of in a number of neighbourhoods, including Small Heath and Alum Rock.

"We have powers to take enforcement action where a vehicle is parked more than 50cm from the kerb or is parked alongside another vehicle.

Enforcement activity is…prioritised based on reports, local intelligence and the level of risk to road users, not the affluence of an area."

A white car parked on double yellow lines outside a shop. — Residents say cars blocking pavements and parking on double yellow lines had become the norm

But community activist Nav "Bearded Bey" Sadiq, believes more needs to be done.

"I've raised the issue on many occasions with the council. It's a sign of just pure neglect," Sadiq said.

"If anybody is to blame it's not the people – you have allowed the people to do what they want to do. So, when you allow people to do as they please, this is what you get."

But Zamir believes a resolution is possible.

"It's important that we work together with the local authority and organisations, like the mosques, churches, football ground and supermarkets nearby to find a solution together," she said.

She thinks "something as simple as parking a little further out" would help school children and residents.

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