Inconsiderate parking by workers in Newry has been blamed by residents for preventing an ambulance getting through a busy city centre street.
And the matter is to be raised at the highest level by one local MLA who said she shared the frustration of locals.
Sinn Fein MLA Liz Kimmins voiced her anger after learning of the situation which unfolded at Thomas Street and Pool Lane on Thursday.
The incident had been highlighted on social media by one irate resident who addressed those responsibly directly.
Joanne Havern said it was an every day issue.
And she said residents had warned traffic attendants and Roads Service that this would happen if something was not done.
She blamed “inconsiderate workers” parking on both sides of this residential area to go to their place of employment.
And she hit out: “They blocked an ambulance getting into Cleary Crescent today and wasted precious time to attend to sick people.”
This is not a one-off incident either, she insists, as she describes the norm: “Residents blocked into their own home because wheelchair access is blocked by a car.
“Oil deliveries blocked, bin collections blocked and disabled buses blocked.
“For the love of God have some bloody common sense when you park your chunk of metal on our footpaths!”
She added: “MLA Liz Kimmins has been lobbying the Roads Service about this area during her time as local councillor but this needs addressed and a solution found as soon as possible.”
The recently-appointed Sinn Fein MLA Liz Kimmins expressed her anger and said she would be writing to Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon in order to get the matter addressed urgently.
She said: “I totally share the frustrations of these residents.
“I have repeatedly raised this issue for the last number of years with the Department of Infrastructure and PSNI as it was only a matter of time before an emergency situation occurred.
“I will now be writing to the Minister for urgent action as this really can’t go on any longer.”
