IMAGINE awaiting a 999 emergency response but the police, fire or ambulance service is unable to get through because of irresponsibly parked vehicles.
In the last few months there have been two incidents in the Horsham district where cars that have been badly parked have caused the emergency services to have to take a different or longer route to gain access to properties after occupants have calle
d for urgent assistance.
One such area where such irresponsible or illegal parking could endanger lives is the Trafalgar ward area of Horsham town.
This week residents in the main problem areas of Spencers Place, Kempshott Road, Swindon Road, Purton Road, Hardy Close, Nelson Road, Milton Road, Victory Road, Shelley Road, Hamilton Road, Spencers Road and Percy Road have received letters alerting them to a safer parking campaign being tried out in their area.
The campaign is targeted at all road users who park in the area, not necessarily local residents.
The campaign, which is a Horsham District Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership approach between Horsham District Council, Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and the Ambulance service, is being carried out to highlight the problems that irresponsible parking can cause.
The letter to residents highlights the month long campaign, indicating the numerous steps which will be taken to promote better parking.
These will include temporary signs being erected, alerting residents and other road users that parking patrols will be stepped up in the area, and any illegal parking will be penalised.
Chairman of the Horsham District Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Natalie Brahma-Pearl, said: "Careless parking poses a real threat to many people, especially those requiring emergency assistance.
"The delay of trying to navigate emergency vehicles through roads where cars act as obstructions can be a matter of life or death.
"Sadly, there are examples across the UK where lives have been lost because emergency vehicles could not get to their destination, or were delayed in getting to the person urgently needing help.
"Not one of us would want any member of our family to be put at risk because of this.
"This is preventable and the Horsham District Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership wants to highlight this issue so that people think twice and don't put others in danger."
During this week, whilst the letters highlighting the campaign are posted through residents' doors, any vehicles found parked inappropriately will have an advisory leaflet put under the windscreen wipers, pointing out the potential risk that the poor parking would be posing to emergency vehicles getting down the road.
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These leaflets also make it clear that should a vehicle be obstructing an emergency vehicle, emergency services are within their rights to move the vehicle if the owner can't be found.
For more information on parking go to www.horsham.gov.uk, contact the Community Safety team at Horsham District Council on 01403 215124, or email community.safety@horsham.gov.uk or contact Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) on the Sussex Police website via www.sussex.police.uk/neighbourhood_policing/nptnopc.aspx
