CARELESS parking by residents in Sherston could be putting lives at risk, it has been claimed.

A number of parked cars have left emergency services struggling to squeeze down the village’s narrow lanes, which could lead to a fatal delay.

Also, on June 30, a recycling truck reportedly failed to get around the corner of Silver Street and Cliff Road to collect the bins, due to a car being parked poorly.

The parish council have received numerous complaints about the issue and are warning residents that they could enforce road markings or even create and out-of-village car park if the situation does not improve.

They are also considering asking the community policing team to visit the village to discuss the issue.

Sherston parish councillor and emergency response coordinator for the parish, Cllr Jill Cainey, said it is an “increasing problem” in the village.

“It is sad that [certain] individuals are blocking the road, preventing services that have been paid for with council tax and leaving rubbish uncollected,” she said.

“[It is] sadder still that the individual is not amenable to helping their community.

“[They] are often difficult to deal with and unreasonable when you do pluck up courage [to talk to them] as they believe in their right to do as they please, regardless of the consequences for their neighbours.”

There have been a number of recent cases in Sherston where emergency service vehicles have struggled to get to calls in the village due to poor parking.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) have urged motorists to park sensibly to avoid obstructing routes that could cause delays to emergency vehicles.

SWASFT’s director of operations, Neil Le Chevalier, said: “Parking inappropriately can lead to delays in our crews getting to the scene of an incident.

“In an emergency situation, where seconds really can make a huge difference to the outcome for our patients, it is vital that we are able to get there as quickly as possible.

“I would urge the public when parking vehicles in narrow roads to have a look around and think about whether there would be enough space for an emergency vehicle to get through.”

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Council echoed the sentiments saying: “People need to be conscious of over road users when parking their cars, especially on narrow roads as larger vehicles – particularly emergency services vehicles – may need access at any time.”

One alternative that has been proposed to deal with the problem in Sherston is allocating parking spaces along certain roads.

This would ensure emergency vehicles are not obstructed, however the parish council insist they hope to rectify the problem without using such measures.

The situation will continue to be monitored by the parish council.