Your car parking could put lives at risk, says Dorset Fire Service (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Your car parking could put lives at risk, says Dorset Fire Service
12:30pm Wednesday 28th January 2009 in
LIVES are being put at risk because of inconsiderate parking, according to Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.
The service has said huge fire pumps sometimes can’t get down a street or are delayed, with potentially massive consequences.
And the problem of double-sided parking is bad across Bournemouth and Poole but worse in Weymouth.
A spokeswoman said: “People need to be very thoughtful about how and where they park.
“They need to be considerate and mindful of the fact that large emergency vehicles may need to access these routes for genuine emergencies.
“If you can only just squeeze through in a car, an emergency vehicle can’t get through. They are putting lives at risk.”
Comments(21)
Moon - Face
says...
12:52pm Wed 28 Jan 09
Peggy Babcock
says...
12:53pm Wed 28 Jan 09
ruprecht
says...
1:13pm Wed 28 Jan 09
arendea
says...
1:20pm Wed 28 Jan 09
djd
says...
1:28pm Wed 28 Jan 09
The problem is caused by an explosion in ownership of vehicles.
Most homes have more than one car and some have company vans parked outside.
Common sense should prevail, but alas, without being told not to park there, drivers will.
Linguist
says...
1:30pm Wed 28 Jan 09
Peggy Babcock wrote:Surely, you jest peggy!! Try driving down Old Xch Road (and the roads off of it) on a friday/saturday night. You can almost guarantee that all roads will have cars parked on double yellow lines.
Solution: Double yellow lines down one side of the road. If not, residents will (and are perfectly entitiled to) park on the road.
manana
says...
2:07pm Wed 28 Jan 09
Moon - Face wrote:Too true. Everywheres being converted into flats with either one or no parking spaces. If its a one bedroomed flat, with a couple living there, and they have a car each (which most do) then they have to park on the road. Most roads are wide enough to accomodate this but the ones that are not need some sort of restriction. Although this will only push the remaining cars onto other roads.
Another consequence of allowing the conversion of family homes to flats, and the demolition of one home, to be replaced with blocks of flats with inadequate or no on site parking. (you don't need to provide any parking at all for 1 bedroom flats). Perhaps the fire and ambulance services should monitor and object to planning applications of this type.
GB1980
says...
2:08pm Wed 28 Jan 09
One solution to "huge fire pumps" not being able to get down narrow roads would be to send a smaller fire pump, like they have done with ambulances (now they often send a car).
I seem to remember this idea was being discussed recently to allow smaller crews to attend smaller fires in order to cut costs; perhaps there are also practical merits to this idea.
Limestone
says...
2:56pm Wed 28 Jan 09
vik
says...
4:29pm Wed 28 Jan 09
DonG
says...
4:47pm Wed 28 Jan 09
Especially when I park in St Albans St !!
Itsatouchysubject
says...
5:16pm Wed 28 Jan 09
vik wrote:Your comment suggests that its all ok, and eventually a large vehicle will make it too your doorstep, unfortunately fire kills, and very quickly, im sure you can appreciate that...so what it not be fair to say every second counts!!!
I live in a narrow and do appreciate that it is difficult for large vehicles to get up the road as i know at times i find it a bit tight!!! However, the dustbin men always seem to manage to get within a few metres from the property. i am lucky and have a driveway which i always park on when at home - where do Dorset Fire & Rescue suppose residents park if they have no drive or allocated parking - maybe we should have a park and ride system??????????
In addition im sure that most bin lorry's are rear loading, last time i remember looking at a fire engine all their gear is stowed on the sides. All it neads is some sensible consideration! For those who bought a house without parking, its its not an excuse to park irresponsibly!
John T
says...
5:16pm Wed 28 Jan 09
I think this headline is aimed at you, Lesley Dedman, Mayor of Ferndown!
grumps999
says...
5:32pm Wed 28 Jan 09
amused
says...
5:35am Thu 29 Jan 09
How very true, in all matters of parking or driving. When you buy house or flat you know wether you can park or not near to your home, hopefno one will die as a result of inconsiderate parking
tangogran
says...
8:06am Thu 29 Jan 09
vik
says...
8:40am Thu 29 Jan 09
Itsatouchysubject wrote:I glad you seem to know a fire engine so well - maybe you should also remember the older style ones that were able to run long hoses!!! Perhaps these could be reintroduced to enable our underpaid firefighters to do their jobs? Most people do not park irresponsibly on the road they park neatly against the pavement which when i learnt to drive was the correct way. I think the real point here is that our streets have been poorly built and our residential areas are overcrowded.
vik wrote: I live in a narrow and do appreciate that it is difficult for large vehicles to get up the road as i know at times i find it a bit tight!!! However, the dustbin men always seem to manage to get within a few metres from the property. i am lucky and have a driveway which i always park on when at home - where do Dorset Fire & Rescue suppose residents park if they have no drive or allocated parking - maybe we should have a park and ride system??????????Your comment suggests that its all ok, and eventually a large vehicle will make it too your doorstep, unfortunately fire kills, and very quickly, im sure you can appreciate that...so what it not be fair to say every second counts!!! In addition im sure that most bin lorry's are rear loading, last time i remember looking at a fire engine all their gear is stowed on the sides. All it neads is some sensible consideration! For those who bought a house without parking, its its not an excuse to park irresponsibly!
ray142
says...
12:57pm Thu 29 Jan 09
amused
says...
2:30pm Thu 29 Jan 09
paul.p
says...
5:15pm Thu 29 Jan 09
Itsatouchysubject
says...
6:49pm Thu 29 Jan 09
vik wrote:Well its funny you mention that, cause actually i am a firefighter, working in your local area. Also as a fire appliance driver i have experienced the tight streets in and around town. As for the long hose, well yes we still carry metres and metres of the stuff, but have you considered just how long it takes to put this stuff out. I would probably suggest that for every 25 metre roll we put out our ability to put water on a fire increases by anything up too 3 minutes depending on crew size and other hazards, such as more poorly parked cars! I have had the experiance of having had to run to the next hydrant cause some doughnut has parked over the nearest available one. Every minute counts, i really mean that! I would agree that some residential area's are over crowded, but again, it's still not an excuse for irresponsible parking! As for your underpaid remark... Good-call :)
Itsatouchysubject wrote:I glad you seem to know a fire engine so well - maybe you should also remember the older style ones that were able to run long hoses!!! Perhaps these could be reintroduced to enable our underpaid firefighters to do their jobs? Most people do not park irresponsibly on the road they park neatly against the pavement which when i learnt to drive was the correct way. I think the real point here is that our streets have been poorly built and our residential areas are overcrowded.vik wrote: I live in a narrow and do appreciate that it is difficult for large vehicles to get up the road as i know at times i find it a bit tight!!! However, the dustbin men always seem to manage to get within a few metres from the property. i am lucky and have a driveway which i always park on when at home - where do Dorset Fire & Rescue suppose residents park if they have no drive or allocated parking - maybe we should have a park and ride system??????????Your comment suggests that its all ok, and eventually a large vehicle will make it too your doorstep, unfortunately fire kills, and very quickly, im sure you can appreciate that...so what it not be fair to say every second counts!!! In addition im sure that most bin lorry's are rear loading, last time i remember looking at a fire engine all their gear is stowed on the sides. All it neads is some sensible consideration! For those who bought a house without parking, its its not an excuse to park irresponsibly!
This is not me having a go, just wish people in general would have a little more consideration, it could be your house next!
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