‘Careless parking really does cost lives’ warns Midhurst firefighter, after crew finds road blocked

Firefighters in Midhurst are urging drivers to think before they park after they were blocked from getting through a residential road over the weekend.
Picture: Midhurst Fire StationPicture: Midhurst Fire Station
Picture: Midhurst Fire Station

The crew from Midhurst Fire Station was held up waiting for residents to come and move their vehicles to allow them to pass through on Saturday afternoon.

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Midhurst Watch Commander Matt Gamblen said: “A delay of this nature could mean the difference between life and death for someone.

“Fortunately we were able to manoeuvre our way through the street, but this is an issue that we are encountering more and more across the county.

“On this occasion, the incident we were attending turned out to be a false alarm, but it could so very easily could have been something far more serious, where every second counts when getting to the scene of an emergency.”

The crew is calling on residents to consider whether a fire engine could pass along their street before parking up.

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Matt added: “We know that parking can be an emotive subject, but careless parking really does cost lives.

“Our crews will be visiting a number of streets over the coming weeks to meet residents and highlight the issue of careless parking in the hope that we can avoid any further situations like this in future.”

Commenting online, many residents expressed their shock at the incident.

Reader Julia Greet said: “One day it could be your property on fire and they can’t get through.”

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Alison Procter said: “Happens ALL the time in Lamberts Land and Park Crescent by selfish people blocking the road so that they can ‘pop’ to the shops. Idiots even park across the front of the junction!”

Jan Bryant said: “This could of been an ambulance also maybe saving a life. All these cars and parking problems needs to be sorted not only Midhurst but everywhere.”

Chris Dean said: “These drivers should all be disqualified for obstruction causing possible danger!”

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