Shropshire Star

Poor parking in Market Drayton is 'putting lives at risk'

Poor parking in Market Drayton is potentially putting lives at risk because it is slowing down emergency services responding to calls, it has been claimed.

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Police have received a number of complaints that emergency vehicles would struggle to get down some streets in the town due to inconsiderate parking.

Constable Alan Ambrose, of Market Drayton Police Station, said the town’s police officers and fire service were now looking to join forces in a bid to clamp down on the issue.

“Over the past week we have had a number of complaints around a number of streets in Market Drayton,” he said.

“The complaints are regarding concerns that emergency vehicles would struggle to get down some streets due to parking from residents. I know some streets in Market Drayton are narrow.

“Our team are looking at doing some work with the fire service and using the fire engine to go down these streets to see if we have any issues.

“Can I please ask you when parking your vehicles can you make sure there is enough room for a lorry/fire engine to get down the street. Please don’t park your vehicle where it would stop a fire engine, ambulance or other emergency vehicle from getting through. Please remember if they can’t get through in an emergency it prevents them saving lives much more quickly.

“We have drafted up a poster which we are in the process of using and advising if these issues exist.”

The poster shows a picture of a fire engine trying to squeeze past two parked vehicles on a street.

It is captioned: “People are dying to park outside their homes – don’t let someone die because you wanted to!”

Last year people were warned about the dangers of parking outside the town’s fire station after a car blocked access to the building when crews were responding to an emergency.

The warning was issued by firefighters after a car stopped right outside the station to drop off someone going to work at the Morrisons store next door.

It is believed to have happened when firefighters were called to deal with a fire involving a cooker in a house in Moreton Say, near Market Drayton.

Councillor Tim Beckett, member of Market Drayton Town Council, said he had experienced bad parking himself.

“St Mary’s Street is always horrendous at night times as vehicles are always parked down there and I have on one occasion had to reverse back up and go the other way as a large vehicle had parked down there.

“It was impossible for a larger vehicle to get past so a fire engine would have no chance.

“Certain other streets would struggle to get a large lorry or fire engine down, Great Hales Street being one such street.”