IVYBRIDGE firefighters are calling on residents to consider access for emergency services when choosing a parking space.

In recent weeks, inconsiderate parking has caused problems for fire and ambulance crews trying to reach the scene of emergency incidents in the town, particularly in the area south of Western Road.

But residents asked to identify other parts of the town where parking might hamper emergency access also pointed to Acland Road, Prideaux Road and Bishops Close, and Wood Park and Langham Way.

Last Sunday, Ivybridge Fire Station put out the following message on its Facebook page.

It said: ’This morning our co-responder vehicle was mobilised to a serious medical emergency in Ivybridge. Our co-responders arrived within minutes but the ambulance crew were heavily delayed due to bad parking in the area.

’They were ultimately unable to reach the house and had to park at the end of the road.

’The timeliness of this patient’s care was greatly hindered by inconsiderate parking. While we realise the streets were never designed around today’s modern cars, please ask yourself: could a fire engine or ambulance reach you if YOU or YOUR family needed us?

’It may be as simple as folding in your wing mirrors and making sure your wheels are not turning out onto the road.’

The local fire station held a meeting this week with police at Ivybridge station to discuss a new campaign to improve the parking habits in the town. Look out for more on this from local emergency services in the coming weeks.