Parking nightmare for 999 crews

Many roads in Brighton and Hove are regularly turned into no-go zones for fire engines and other emergency vehicles because of cars left double-parked, at junctions or too far from the kerb.

Firefighters warned today they were having problems getting through about half the city's streets and it was a matter of time before bad parking cost a life.

Badly-parked cars have meant firefighters having to abandon their vehicle - and the vital equipment needed to put out a life-threatening blaze - or risk being too late to save someone from the deadly effects of smoke and fire.

Graham Gray, commander at Hove fire station, said: "About 60 per cent of streets in Brighton and 40 per cent in Hove give us problems at some point.

"Double parking is a major issue in Brighton and it is a creeping issue in Hove. Areas such as Poets Corner and Stoneham Park cause us problems with cars parked in the middle of the road.

"Our vehicles seem to be trying to get through ever-decreasing gaps when they go through some of the streets.

"The problem seems to have got worse in the past couple of years. I think it is partly down to an ever-increasing population and the many buildings that are converted into flats, which means more cars trying to park in one area.

"I think it is fair to say hundreds of homes in Hove are difficult for us to get to because of double parking and the figure is likely to run into thousands for Brighton."

Dick Gaterell, a Brighton firefighter who wrote a report on the parking problem four years ago, estimates there are at least 3,000 homes which are inaccessible by fire engines.

He said: "That doesn't include little central streets like The Lanes. It is a worry for us."

Gary Smith, a leading firefighter at Preston Circus fire station, Brighton, said: "The biggest fear for us is it could cost people their lives. If you have got kids trapped in a bedroom and mum and dad outside screaming, during that time the kids are drawing their last breath."

Richard Chamberlain, watch officer at the station, said: "It is only a matter of time until we get completely blocked from getting down a road. That little extra time will result in tragedy."

Firefighters say the worst streets for parking include Brunswick Road, Southover Place, Southover Street, Islingword Road, Hanover Terrace, Roundhill Crescent, Richmond Road, Vere Road, Ashdown Road and Inverness Road.

Fire crews have leafleted residents in areas where there are problems, including Shaftesbury Road, behind Preston Circus fire station.

Firefighter John Perrett said: "Our worst-case scenario is persons reported - which means someone is trapped - and we have come down a narrow street where a lorry has been double- parked and you have to leave the fire engine and run with the hose.

"Quite often the driver has to drive down and damage the vehicle.

"Like most things in life, people don't think of the worst-case scenario. Smoke can kill in seconds, so a minute can make a difference. If someone is overcome by smoke and you get there two minutes earlier it can be quite critical."

Mr Perrett, who has been a firefighter in Brighton and Hove for ten years, said double parking had got worse since the council took over the regulation of parking.

It is a police matter but he called for a change in the law so that offenders could also get tickets from parking attendants.

Fire crews say evenings, when residents come home from work, are worst.

An investigation by The Argus last month found that by 8pm on a weekday there were numerous roads the driver of an ordinary fire engine would not be able to negotiate.

Firefighters frequently have to bounce cars out of the way by hand. Between 8am and midnight they can call a firm to remove illegally parked vehicles but this can take up to an hour and is no good in emergencies.

Mick Meik, the station commander at Preston Circus, which attends about 4,000 incidents a year, said: "Fire engines have been getting bigger and streets have been getting smaller.

"In this day and age a lot of households will have more than one car. For a town that wasn't designed to have cars, it quickly becomes a problem.

"We are the first to acknowledge that people have to park somewhere. But if they park badly or illegally they should realise they might be obstructing emergency vehicles."

Dick Davey-Thomas, parking manager for Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "The council's enforcement policy prioritises parking on bus stops, on dangerous corners and in disabled bays.

"We tow away vehicles parked in these places as they severely hamper others in getting around the city.

"Last year the parking service won an award for best practice in the way we prioritise parking enforcement. Controlled parking helps to keep streets clear so that emergency vehicles have access.

"We also have a rolling programme of parking reviews where we look at areas street by street. We can then work with people who use those areas to iron out any problems."

Sussex Police has the power to remove a car causing a serious obstruction.

The force also targets certain areas of the city, such as behind Preston Circus fire station, where it will put warning notices on cars parked illegally.

If drivers continue to offend the car could be impounded and the driver prosecuted.

Inspector Dave Padwick, of Sussex Police, said officers had to deal daily with vehicles causing an obstruction.

If the vehicle is parked dangerously, the driver can be issued with a summons.

Gary Walsh, senior divisional officer at East Sussex Fire and Rescue and director of community protection, said: "Double parking gives us a lot of concern and things have got worse in the last two or three years.

"We are considering trialling smaller appliances to get through the streets but we need to deal with this problem now.

"We will always get to where we need to go. When there is a property fire we send two appliances to make sure but obviously if there is a car in the way then we are going to be delayed.

"Any delay could lead to somebody losing their life.

"The summer is approaching and Brighton and Hove is going to get extremely busy as the tourists arrive so we need people to start thinking now about where they are parking and whether we are going to be able to get past in an emergency."

Sussex Ambulance Service spokeswoman Janine Bell said: "Brighton and Hove is our busiest area and we deal with between 50 and 100 calls a day there.

"We do experience problems, especially in the narrower streets in Brighton.

We try to place our vehicles in parts of the city where we expect to be needed so we can get to people quickly.

"However, if someone has parked selfishly we may not be able to get past.

"Every second and every minute could mean the difference between life and death for a patient and we need to get to them quickly. We cannot afford delays.

"We do have paramedics who use specially equipped bikes that can get through the streets and to a patient quickly but an ambulance is still required to take that person to hospital."

Bob Wilkins, East Sussex County Council's director of transport and environment, said: "As an authority we can impose restrictions but if members of the public fail to respond they are putting lives at risk."