Your local Neighbourhood Policing Team is asking for your crucial assistance with a matter of community safety and courtesy: considerate parking. We understand that parking can be challenging, but we have received increasing reports of vehicles being parked in a way that creates serious obstruction and danger for your neighbours and, most critically, for emergency services. Why inconsiderate parking is a Safety Issue. This isn't just about inconvenience—it's about saving lives. Poor parking can have severe consequences: Emergency Access Blocked: Fire engines, ambulances, and police vehicles need clear access, often having to navigate narrow streets quickly during an emergency. A few extra inches could be the difference between a fast response and a delay that puts a life at risk. Please ensure you always leave a gap of at least 3.1 metres (about 10 feet) for large vehicles to pass. Preventing Egress/Ingress: Vehicles parked across dropped kerbs not only block driveways but also prevent access for people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or pushchairs, forcing vulnerable pedestrians into the road. Creating Blind Spots and Hazards: Parking too close to junctions, corners, or bends creates dangerous blind spots, significantly increasing the risk of collisions, especially for children and older residents. Key Guidelines from the Highway Code We urge all residents to always adhere to the following rules: Do NOT Park opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction (unless in an authorised parking bay). Do NOT Park on zigzag lines at pedestrian crossings or outside schools. Do NOT block any dropped kerb. - Do NOT Park in a position that obstructs access for emergency services or essential refuse collection/delivery vehicles.
Park as close to the kerb as possible and consider pulling in your wing mirrors. Our Role and Your Responsibility While many general parking offences are enforced by the Local Council, the Police will and must take action when parking is dangerous or causes an obstruction on the highway, which includes issuing tickets or, in serious cases, arranging for vehicles to be removed. We would much rather see this issue resolved through mutual respect and community awareness than through enforcement action. We appeal to your community spirit: Please take a moment to look at your parked vehicle and ask yourself: Could an ambulance easily get through? Am I forcing a pedestrian or pushchair into the road? Thank you for your cooperation in making our streets safer for everyone. | 
