`Lives at risk' as cars block fire engines

From the archive, first published Tuesday 21st Feb 2006.

Bad parking is putting lives at risk - that is the stark message from fire crews to unthinking motorists.

Firefighters are warning drivers that carelessly parked vehicles are holding up emergency crews for potentially life-saving minutes.

Officers from across Bradford district are calling on drivers to think twice before double-parking on narrow streets following a series of potentially hazardous snarl-ups.

Odsal crew manager Simon Moore said double parking delayed his crew on their way to a call-out in Fourth Street, Low Moor. He said poor parking was an increasing problem in some areas and could eventually cost lives.

Firefighter Steve Lofthouse, of Bradford fire station, said they were finding it increasingly difficult to access narrower streets because of badly parked cars. He said: "We need people to be a little more thoughtful and to stagger their parking. We could sound our horn but it could take minutes for people to react and that's a long time if there are people in great danger."

Firefighter Anthony Beaver, of Fairweather Green fire station, said: "It's a constant problem. The alternative is to take another route, but turning round takes up precious time."

Watch manager Steve Spencer, of Keighley fire station, said: "The worst areas are actually the more affluent ones where people have more than one car. The newer estates where the streets have been built specifically to be narrow and car unfriendly to slow them down can be worse than the terraced streets."

Another Keighley watch manager John Musto said traffic tailbacks from Saltaire roundabout were a worry. "Saltaire was built for the mill workers, but it's now a bit of a yuppie area. A household might have one or more cars but take the train to work so there are very often a lot of cars down there."

Mr Musto said they had resorted to leafleting offending car owners.

Crew manager Alan Ramsey, of Idle fire station, said narrow Ridgeway at Wrose was known to have caused a problem for firefighters. "Any narrow road where people have vehicles can pose a difficulty for us,"he said.

Shipley MP Philip Davies has asked for a study into traffic problems at Saltaire roundabout following the opening of the relief road after learning of firefighters' concerns.

A report of the study by the Highways Agency and Bradford Council is due to be released later this month.

Mr Davies said: "Saltaire roundabout causes problems for everyone. If fire engines cannot get along, sorting out the snarl-ups could be the difference between life and death."

John Blackburn, head of Bradford Council's traffic and highways south, said: "It is increasing car ownership and lack of off-street parking that is creating problems.We impose parking restrictions - yellow lines - but the enforcement of those lines is with the police."

Archive Home