As car ownership has increased, so has the problem of parking on grass verges. Grass verges can enhance the look of streets, help drain surface water and provide a useful location beneath which to locate underground services.
We often receive enquiries and reports about parking on grass verges and pavements. This page sets out the council's legal position, how we respond to reports and any action we may take.
Parking on grass verges and pavements is a persistent problem in the borough of Havant and can have a big impact on people with sight and mobility difficulties and for children in pushchairs. Further problems include reducing verges to an unsightly state, obstructing the highway and preventing pedestrians and wheelchair users from accessing roads and footways if there is no other pathway.
Also, pavements are only designed and constructed to take the weight of pedestrians, mobility scooters and wheelchairs, so the weight of a car or goods vehicle can cause damage.
Parking on verges or pavements can also cause a hazard to other motorists especially if the vehicle is parked on a bend, narrow road or junction. We do not promote or support parking on grass verges or pavements.
On 1 April 2023, Hampshire County Council took responsibility for on-street parking enforcement - this does not include council owned and managed car parks. Hampshire County Council is also now responsible for residents' parking permits, parking controls including yellow lines, disabled parking bay applications and access protection markings.