Residents in Chichester were unable to have their refuse collected one day last week because access was blocked by a parked car.
People living in Langton Road, which is around the corner from Bishop Luffa School, expected to see their refuse collected, but because a car had been double parked, Chichester District Council's refuse lorry was unable to gain access.
Refuse collectors had to come back the following day, but residents said they were concerned because of potential access problems for emergency vehicles.
Resident Gina Jobe said people thought the car belonged to a student.
Emergency worries"We often have students at Chichester College or sixth form students at Bishop Luffa park around here, but it's never been like this. The lorry literally couldn't get past.
"When the binmen came round they were very good and said they would have to collect it the next day, but everyone here was really concerned because if there was an emergency, an ambulance or fire engine wouldn't be able get down there.
"There are flats nearby where quite a lot of elderly people live."
Access problemsA spokeswoman for the district council said refuse collectors regularly experienced problems accessing roads or individual houses because of
parked cars.
"When crews are faced with issues such as this one the collection schedule is usually altered, resulting in collections planned for later in the day being brought forward," said the spokeswoman.
People in the Parklands area of Chichester have experienced long-running issues with students and other non-residents parking their
cars in residential roads.
Chichester District Council is planning to introduce parking enforcement zones to help alleviate the problem before the revamp of Chichester College.
A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue urged people to park more considerately and to think whether emergency vehicles would be able to
pass easily.
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