ANGRY residents say badly parked cars are causing havoc in their streets – delaying an ambulance which was unable to get through after it was called out to a sick baby in one recent incident.

Householders in the Dexta Way area of Northallerton say vehicle owners regularly leave their cars parked for days at a time because they don’t want to pay as little as £3 to park their vehicles for 24 hours at the nearby train station.

It is understood that paramedics did eventually reach the baby, who is now on the mend – but residents say it is an ongoing problem with some drivers endangering their children by speeding along the road.

One resident said: “It is an absolute disgrace. This is happening all the time – it wouldn’t be so bad but the parking is terrible. They think cars can get through but then you get this when the ambulance is delayed because people are being selfish and don’t want to fork out a few quid in the car parks.

“What happens if it’s a fire engine next time, or the ambulance is delayed even longer? It doesn’t bear thinking about.

“I saw a driver the other day park up on the road, get a suitcase out of the back of the car and go off towards the train station. Obviously they were just leaving the car here while they went off on a trip.

“There are car parks at the station and opposite the station and for just a few pounds a day drivers can park safely without bothering anybody. This has just gone on long enough."

Another resident said some people leaving cars are then going to work in town or at the nearby North Yorkshire county council headquarters, adding: "We would really like to see double yellow lines and permit parking for residents, because it is horrendous.

"We have tried to ask the people not to park in the street but you just get abuse and they say there are no restrictions, so why shouldn’t they park their cars. Everybody is sick of it.

“I have had people blocking my drive so I can’t get into my own home, but the big concern really is about safety – there are young children around and this issue over the ambulance this week is really appalling.”

North Yorkshire county and Hambleton district councillor Caroline Dickinson said it was an ongoing problem in parts of the town.

She added: “If people are parking on these roads they need to be thoughtful and respectful of the residents and make sure there is room for cars and emergency vehicles to pass properly.

“If emergency vehicles are delayed and then time passes you really don’t know what might happen.

“You do think if people use the car parks instead then they are obstructing nobody. Drivers really need to think about where they are leaving their cars.”

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