Bad parking slowing emergency vehicles (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Bad parking slowing emergency vehicles

12:40pm Friday 31st August 2007 in Chard By Joanna Glover

EMERGENCY services in Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne could be getting delayed because of bad parking.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is asking motorists to be considerate when parking in case they block the way for emergency vehicles.

A new leaflet, Dead End, was launched this week to raise awareness and shows a fire engine attempting to squeeze its way through a street with cars parked on either side.

Leaflets will be left on the windscreen of badly parked vehicles when fire crews encounter difficulties trying to reach an incident.

Service press officer Janet Booth said: "This is an ongoing problem which occurs all over the service area.

"More specifically we have recently encountered problems in Taunton and Yeovil as well as smaller towns in West Somerset.

"However at some time or other delays have been experienced in most towns and villages."

The Ambulance Service has also reported problems with parked vehicles.

Press officer Melodie Juste added: "Across the four counties within which the Trust operates the issue of ambulance obstruction caused through careless parking is a common occurrence "Every second counts in the quest to save lives and the Trust urges people to use common sense and be mindful of emergency services access when parking their vehicles."