Data revealing the overall quantity of parking bays in Brighton and Hove has been released.

This comes after warnings to drivers that placing vehicles on pavements could lead to costly mechanical work.

In Brighton and Hove, many motorists regularly ascend kerbs to accommodate themselves into tight parking areas.

Approximately 120,000 automobiles are vying for 46,728 available parking spots throughout the city, forcing numerous drivers onto pavements.

Neil Fellows, director at Stourbridge Automotive, stated that parking creates genuine challenges in certain parts of the UK, with many motorists feeling they have no choice but to mount the kerb.

However, over time, this can lead to significant damage, and the workshop is seeing more cases that could have been avoided.

Continuously driving onto kerbs subjects a vehicle to considerable strain, resulting in damaged tyre sidewalls, fractured and compromised alloy wheels, and accelerated wear on suspension parts, which can cause misalignment and affect handling.

Experts at GSF Car Parts indicate that garages are witnessing rising instances of damage from repeated kerb mounting, including wheel cracks and suspension deterioration.

Fixing such damage could require expenditure ranging from £300 to £500.

The rise in pavement parking coincides with Brighton and Hove City Council’s efforts to lower traffic levels and vehicle usage, highlighting mounting strain on existing roadside parking facilities.

In January, the council indicated that existing pavement parking rules operate on an individual street basis, and that new powers could allow more widespread enforcement across Brighton and Hove.

Freedom of Information data published in October showed the council had issued 619 code 62 penalty charge notices since 1 September 2022 for vehicles positioned with wheels on the footpath or other areas beyond the carriageway.

Pavement parking is already forbidden in London and Scotland, though in other parts of the UK it is generally permitted unless local restrictions or signage are in place.

Martyn Miller, regional manager at GSF Car Parts, observed that as local authorities prepare to implement stricter parking measures, drivers in Sussex could soon encounter dual consequences, first with a penalty and subsequently with a repair bill.

It is a habitual practice that could ultimately cost hundreds.

Drivers are encouraged to watch for warning signs including steering wheel vibrations, uneven tyre deterioration or the car pulling to one side, which could indicate kerb-related damage.

Amelia Lupson, communications officer at Brighton and Hove City Council, explained that there are 46,000 parking spaces exclusively within Controlled Parking Zones in the city, yet many parts of the city lie outside a Controlled Parking Zone or residents possess off-street parking facilities.