MOTORISTS living a part of Huntingdon criticised by the fire brigade for their inconsiderate parking have told The Hunts Post they simply have no choice in the matter. Last week Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service complained that parked cars in Beva

MOTORISTS living a part of Huntingdon criticised by the fire brigade for their "inconsiderate parking" have told The Hunts Post they simply have no choice in the matter.

Last week Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service complained that parked cars in Bevan Close had blocked the fire engine's route while answering a 999 call.

Firefighters had to leave the engine and run to the property. Luckily the homeowners managed to extinguish the fire before the crews arrived.

Kevin Gipp, watch manager at Huntingdon fire station, urged residents to park more considerately to ensure his crews can reach emergencies.

But some residents in Bevan Close they are being unfairly targeted as they have nowhere else to park - they say their can be vandalised in they leave them in a nearby car park.

One resident told The Hunts Post: "Parking isn't just a problem in Bevan Close, there are many trouble spots that should be considered a high risk area for emergency access including West Street and Avenue Road."

Another resident added: "I have lived here for 30 or so years and I have never had a problem getting a car up and down the road. But the fire brigade are right - if there was a house fire they would have trouble getting the fire engine past the vehicles, but it is not a case of inconsiderately parking - the roads are narrow.

"The fire service is right that there is a problem but we are not parking inadequately."

He added that the car park in Bevan Close is generally unused by residents as in the past cars parked there have been broken into.

"It is a matter of necessity that we park in front of our houses because if we park in the car park our cars will get broken into," he said. "The car park is plagued by vandals and perhaps lighting and police presence would help solve the problem but I still wouldn't risk using it."

However he admitted: "People who park on the bends or two foot from the kerb should think twice about where they are parking."

Mr Gipp told The Hunts Post last week that firefighters had also encountered problems in Avenue Road, Coronation Avenue and Coldhams South, causing them delays.

"Motorists who park inconsiderately can cause a significant delay in responding to emergencies," he said. "In a situation such as a house fire where someone is trapped this really can mean the difference between life and death."

INFORMATION: Is parking a problem in your street? Send your views and photographs to: editor@huntspost.co.uk or write to: Parking debate, The Hunts Post, 30 High Street, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 3TB.