Drumchapel residents claim they are facing fines of up to £100 on streets they believe should be exempt from pavement parking regulations, according to a local councillor.
Drumchapel/Anniesland councillor Paul Carey BEM says he has been “inundated” with complaints from residents who have been fined for pavement parking on Drumry Road East.
Councillor Carey says there is no alternative otherwise bus routes and emergency services will be blocked from passing through and that parking on a different street is not always possible especially for the elderly and disabled members of the community.
There have also been concerns over women’s safety particularly in the dark.
Speaking on the issue, councillor Carey said: “This legislation may have had good intentions, but its rollout has been completely back to front. Roads like Drumry Road East should have been properly assessed before enforcement—not after.
“This is not the fault of council officers; the responsibility lies squarely with the council, who knew these changes were coming and failed to act.
“Residents are being fined £100 for pavement parking where they have no viable alternative, because parking on the road would block buses and emergency vehicles.
“Telling people to ‘park elsewhere’ isn’t a solution: nearby streets cannot cope, and asking elderly, disabled, or vulnerable residents to walk 20–30 minutes over uneven, poorly maintained pavements is unsafe. Some constituents, particularly women, have told me they feel vulnerable walking home alone at night, carrying shopping or children.”
Councillor Carey says the council knows how to plan ahead for major construction projects – assessing traffic flow, parking, emergency access, and accessibility for elderly and disabled residents but worries that level of planning hasn’t happened for Drumry Road.
He continued: “Official maps even show areas as safe for pavement parking, leaving residents thinking they are complying—only to then be fined.
“This situation is made worse by an overstretched police force. Police Scotland’s officer numbers have only slightly increased over the last two decades—from about 16,234 in 2007 to around 16,416 in 2025—leaving fewer officers visibly present on the streets to reassure residents.
“For people walking alone at night, especially those vulnerable or disabled, this creates real fear and insecurity.
“The council must act now: complete assessments, provide clear guidance, and ensure enforcement does not unfairly penalise people who have no practical alternatives.”
Glasgow City Council has been approached for comment.
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