FIREFIGHTERS have been prevented from reaching fires by a new parking scheme which has left roads blocked and could have put lives at risk.

Now highways bosses have agreed to alter the controversial residents-only parking bays in the Infirmary area of Blackburn after fire engines were prevented from reaching several blazes.

Chris Norse, station commander at Blackburn Fire Station, said appliances had been unable to turn into streets where the parking bays come right to the edge of the junction.

On three occasions firefighters have been forced to park an engine in a nearby street and attend the scene on foot because cars were parked to the edge of the junction.

Mr Norse said: "I was concerned that due to the positioning of the parking bays that appliances are unable to reach certain areas. "Luckily the fires we were obstructed in reaching were not too serious. But the delays could have been potentially fatal if they had been more serious."

Mr Norse wrote to highways bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Council urging them to reduce the length of the bays to allow fire engines to turn into narrow streets.

A council spokesman confirmed today that parking bays in Marlton Street would be changed, subject to consultation with local residents. Highways officials are now investigating whether to adjust similar parking bays in nearby Southworth Street.

The council spokesman said: "The proposal is to take the length of some of the bays away to make more space for the fire engines."

He said the council had responded immediately after receiving a letter from Mr Norse and highways chiefs had even been given a tour of the area on a fire engine.

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