Fury in Rottingdean as car parking stops emergency services

The average age of people living in Nevill Road in Rottingdean is 65, with just three people in the street under the age of 18.

But “selfish drivers looking for a cheap parking space” are stopping ambulances from accessing people needing urgent care.

Steve Smith, 54, has lived in Nevill Road for 20 years and says the problem has never been as bad as it is now.

“We frequently have a need for ambulances and the access issues have certainly become much worse in the last year and a half,” said Steve.

The Mercedes in the centre is trying to access the road but cannot because of the vehicles parked either side (Image: Supplied)

“The increase in number of cars in general is a problem in the village and people are too tight to pay for a space.”

Nevill Road is split into three sections of ownership. The west, outside people’s homes, is privately owned and residents pay a fee to maintain its surface. The east is operated by Brighton and Hove City Council.

The central part of the road where the problem parking occurs. This section is also privately owned but not part of the residents’ remit. It means that there is confusion over who should monitor the parking.

Green shaded area is maintained by tenants, red is council operated and yellow is privately owned but not part of the residents’ remit. (Image: Google Maps)

“There is a sign there telling people they could be clamped and have to pay £50 to remove it if they block the road. We think that putting yellow hatchings on the road could help prevent people parking there,” said Steve.

“But we have never actually done anything because of the aggression that get from people parking there.

“One resident left a note underneath a car windscreen wiper. The driver threatened to attack them and go to the police about damaging their car.”

Steve says around 12 ambulances a year are delayed trying to access the road and it is not just residents who have noticed the problem.

He said: “I spoke with a chap in the village who happens to be an ambulance driver. He said he’s waited for 20 minutes there before because he was blocked in.

This van blocked access to the road entirely (Image: Supplied)

“He said it’s a place that the ambulance drivers dread getting called to.

“When Albion are playing we never have any issues. It’s the Monday to Friday shoppers. It’s also people who are parking their cars then get the bus into Brighton because its cheaper than parking in the city.”

The chairman of the city council’s transport and sustainability committee, Councillor Trevor Muten, said that urged motorists to think carefully about where they park, but said only the land owner can enforce restrictions.

The city council asked people to carefully consider where they park (Image: Supplied)

“We’re sorry to hear of the access problems caused by some vehicles parking on this section of private land,” said Cllr Muten.

“Our enforcement officers do respond to complaints about vehicle parking on yellow lines on the section of Nevill Road that is part of the public highway and issue penalty charge notices to those vehicles.

“But legally, the council cannot introduce or enforce parking restrictions on private land. Only the landowner can do this.

“We do ask that vehicle owners are considerate and respectful of other road users when parking to ensure access is maintained for emergency vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and those using mobility aids such as wheelchairs.”

Residents say around 12 ambulances a year are delayed (Image: Supplied)

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South East Coast Ambulance Service urged motorists “to park responsibly and to consider the impact on other road users including the emergency services”.

Steve is understood to be meeting his MP, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, to discuss the matter.

The Argus attempted to contact the landowner.