SELFISH drivers are slowing down response times of emergency services in Cricklade, by illegally parking outside the town’s fire station.

Parking has long been a problem along Bath Road and is at its worst when parents of pupils at St Sampson’s CE Primary School drop-off and pick-up their children, with the school located opposite the station.

Firefighters say the issue has recently become a lot worse and cited the example of a parent who refused to move their car, despite blocking the exit from the fire station and being asked to move several times by crew members.

Cricklade Fire Station tweeted about the incident last week and received overwhelming support from hundreds of people asking for action to be taken and criticising the actions of the parent.

Crew manager Pete Price said: “It has been an ongoing issue since I started here 15 years ago but in the past couple of months it’s started getting really bad.

“We have been complaining for years about the parking problems, it is affecting our response times in and out of the station.

“It is difficult to get out when cars are parked up the road and on the station forecourt when heaps of parents come to collect their children.”

He said they had sought assistance from police and a traffic warden but as soon as the warden, left people went back to parking there.

PC Stuart Welch, Wiltshire Police’s community co-ordinator said: “Wiltshire Police has been in contact with the team at Cricklade Fire Station and are happy to assist with their efforts raising awareness about the dangers of irresponsible parking outside the fire station.

“We are happy to get in touch with the school and offer guidance around responsible parking at drop-off and pick-up times.”

St Sampson’s CE Primary School added: “The Governing Body and Leadership continually remind parents about parking responsibly and have contacted the police on more than one occasion asking for support.

“We are responsible neighbours to the fire station and will continue to do all we can to ensure the safety of our children and community. We do not condone parking that infringes this and again remind parents to park responsibly.”