Norfolk County Council is due to gain "new and improved legal powers" from the government, potentially later this year, which will enable it to punish drivers who obstruct pavements.

County Hall leaders confirmed in March that they were keen to make use of the new powers when they become available.

Vehicles parked on pavements in Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

And they have revealed that when they do get those powers, they could tailor patrols to focus on drivers who put the safety of children at risk by mounting pavements near schools.

Rob Colwell, Liberal Democrat county councillor (Image: Liberal Democrats)

The long-standing issue of dangerous parking near schools - and whether the new powers could help combat that - was raised at a recent meeting of the council's Conservative-controlled cabinet.

Liberal Democrat councillor Rob Colwell and Green councillor Ben Price both raised concerns about pavement parking outside schools and called for the new powers to be used to tackle the problem.

Ben Price, Green county councillor (Image: Norwich Greens)

Graham Plant, Conservative cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said the authority was waiting for the necessary legislation to be put in place and for councils to be given guidance over the new powers.

But he said: "Once we receive the statutory guidance, we will decide how to best and practically apply this in Norfolk, in discussion with our parking partner authority colleagues.

"If an area is highlighted as a particular problem, then civil enforcement officer patrols could be tailored to include that area, with appropriate enforcement applied in accordance with the new guidelines."

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport (Image: Owen Sennitt)

The level of fines which enforcement officers would be able to impose has yet to be confirmed.

But in London, where they already have that power, drivers can be fined up to £130, while in Scotland, fines are £100.

Motoring organisation RAC has backed the new powers, but stressed councils like Norfolk need to treat drivers fairly.

© Norwich Evening News