Parked cars and congestion are causing problem after problem for neighbours living on a Nottinghamshire street. Local residents' cars have been damaged, some say they often unable to park outside their homes, and that they struggle to leave in their cars due to a high level of traffic throughout the day in the road.
The number of cars parked on the narrow road and regularly congested traffic in Bowbridge Road, Newark, is also believed by some residents to make life harder for the emergency services when fire engines and ambulances are trying to drive through the road, which is situated very near to Newark Hospital and Newark Fire Station.
Zac Goodspeed, Station Manager for Newark Fire Station, said: “In an emergency every second counts and we ask people to be considerate when parking so that emergency vehicles can pass easily if we need to. Please do not compromise this by parking over hydrant plates which are clearly marked near the side of the road, as we may need to access these to fight a fire.”
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Music hospitality worker, Lenford Bennett, 32, of Bowbridge Road, said: "It's more the congestion causing problems than anything else." He said: "Congestion is bad and because we have a lot of lorries coming up and down the road, as when there is a crash on the A1 they all get directed through Hawtonville down this road.
"When I go to park sometimes I can't park because there's traffic and I have to go around. I often have to park further down the road or around the corner. The road is narrow and there is a lot of passing traffic."
Speaking of the emergency services, he added: "I've noticed them on here before, but I think now they know its too difficult so now they go down Lime Grove instead to avoid this road. As they are coming out of Lime Grove at the top whenever I see them."
A 44 year old health worker who did not wish to be named said: "I have lost four electric wing mirrors over two years and I have had a lot of scratches. Only once has someone actually stopped and said 'I'm really sorry' and he said he was getting out the way of an ambulance.
"It's a race track here at night. In the mornings I make sure my car is facing the right way otherwise there's no chance of getting out."
She described seeing emergency vehicles struggling "quite often" on the road as " there's not much space for people to move over, especially in peak times and around the school drop off hours.
"If there has been an accident then they all drive through here as a short cut. I wouldn't have moved here if I knew it would be like this." The health worker added that she thought parking permits for residents on the road or speed bumps "would be good" for the area.
Warehouse manager, Tony Bestwick, 64, said: "It does get congested a lot more than it used to with the new estate down that end and the new estate over there, there's a lot more traffic. We have to park our car around the corner, and a lot of people on Jubilee Street have the same problems as us too."
"We have seen the emergency services trying to get up here with difficulty, and big lorries struggle too. It's always been an issue but not as bad as it is now, as it can take us 10-15 minutes to get out of the street."
Animal care worker, Sophie Portrey, 28, also felt that the problem was getting worse. She said: "It is quite bad here, a lot of people don't like to let you back out into the traffic as well, it's awful.
"It's probably worse during the day but at night time it's not too bad. I think it would be better if we had permits as it would probably stop people that go into town as we get a lot of people that park here for the day because they don't want to pay for parking for the hospital or to go into town."
Sophie added: "Sometimes we come out and there's people having broken mirrors on the floor, its always a risk parking here. Someone had left a cat on the road right there in front of ours, and I work with animals so its hard to see. The time that happened there was two in one week and that was awful, you really have to watch what you are doing on this road."
When asked if she thought the road could be causing problems for the emergency vehicles and other drivers, a 30 year old woman who did not wish to be named said: "I think it happens now and then but I don't always notice it. They should do something about it, there's always too many cars here."
Scientist, Sally Murry, 37, said: "I don't drive, but I know it can be difficult for others to park. Permits would be good as sometimes when my mum and dad visit they find it difficult and have to park around the corner where there's space, so it would be good for all the residents. It's just too busy."
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue has previously highlighted a number of issues with poorly parked vehicles on other roads across the county causing delays when they are on route to an incident. Road highlighted by the Fire Service on social media in previous years include Peveril Road, Beeston; Strawberry Lane Retford; Gibbons Avenue, Stapleford, and some roads in Eastwood.
Greg Cox, Divisional Director for Nottinghamshire at East Midlands Ambulance Service, added: “In an emergency situation, delays can put lives at risk. For that reason, we would urge all motorists to park considerately and never leave their vehicle in a position where it could prevent an ambulance, or other emergency vehicles on a 999 call getting through.”
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