DISAPPEARING yellow lines near an Ilminster pre-school need replacing “as a matter of urgency” to give children emergency access.

Sunny Ile Pre-school, based in the grounds of Greenfylde First School, has written to the town council to stress the importance of having easy access to the site.

Fading, crumbling single yellow lines on the road have resulted in cars being parked inconsiderately, restricting access.

One child at the pre-school suffers from a condition which causes his heart to stop, so emergency access is required, the pre-school says.

It claims the vanishing yellow lines are the result of building work at the former Summervale GP surgery, but that is disputed by the developer.

Road markings are the responsibility of the county council, but the preschool and Greenfylde have written to the town clerk to see what can be done to bring a swift resolution.

In the letter, pre-school deputy leader Cheryl Herrick said: “We currently have a child on our register who has a medical condition which requires urgent medical care.

“We’re concerned about the access ambulance services have to the playground to give emergency treatment to the child.

“He suffers from a condition which causes his heart to stop and he will stop breathing.

“Yellow lines opposite the entrance to Greenfylde along Wharf Lane have been removed due to building work being carried out on the old Summervale surgery site.

“This has caused cars to park opposite the entrance in Wharf Lane, limiting access to the gates for emergency vehicles.

“We’d like to ask whether the yellow lines can be reinstated as a matter of urgency.”

In another letter, Greenfylde head teacher Claire Oaten said: “I would like to concur with the views of Cheryl Herrick regarding the reduced access we now suffer due to the yellow lines on Wharf Lane wearing away.

“On most days we cannot gain access for larger vehicles due to vehicles parked directly opposite, and it has already impacted on children’s activities in the school.

“It is especially a concern now with the pre-school having a child on site who may regularly require medical intervention.

“I would appreciate our concerns being passed on to the appropriate person or committee.”

Permission was granted in September for the former GP surgery to be knocked down and replaced by eight new homes – construction is midway through completion.

A spokesman for developer Glenmill Homes Ltd said the fading yellow lines were due to their age and responsibility for them rested with the county’s highways department.

A County Hall spokesman said: “Any yellow lines removed due to works at the medical centre must be replaced by the developer.

“The public should still observe the no waiting restrictions still in place along Wharf Lane by not parking between 8am and 6pm at this location.

“We’re looking at this issue to make sure it’s resolved as soon as possible.”

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