UNSCRUPULOUS drivers are blatantly parking on the forecourt of Carlow Fire Station, blocking emergency vehicles and putting lives at risk.
A member of the public this week contacted The Nationalist to express his horror at the number of cars parked on the fire station forecourt and adjoining footpaths last Wednesday morning.
“It’s just atrocious,” stated acting chief fire officer Alan O’Neill, who admitted that some fire personnel have been “verbally abused” when they politely asked drivers to move.
“It’s happening all the time during school times, so it’s from 8.45am to after 9am and then again between 1.30pm and 3pm,” he added.
Parking on footpaths and on the forecourt of Carlow Fire Station during school times, has become a huge problem for the fire service. The scene yesterday (Monday) morning Photo: michaelorourkephotography
Carlow Fire Station is located across the road from the busy Scoil Mhuire gan Smál primary school, which has an enrolment of more than 450 pupils and little free parking in the area.
“People are parking all over the front of the fire station, it’s just terrible. The attitude wouldn’t be good from some people; lots of the lads have been verbally abused if they say anything to the drivers about it,” said Mr O’Neill.
Mr O’Neill confirmed that last Thursday, Carlow Fire Service was called to an incident involving a fallen tree but vehicles were blocked in at the fire service by parked cars, making it impossible for fire personnel to get out.
“Thankfully, it wasn’t a serious incident yesterday but it could have been. It’s okay if there’s someone in the car, but sometimes there isn’t,” said Mr O’Neill.
“I think at the end of the day, some people see the fire station as a public building and therefore the public should be allowed park in it,” he added.
Mr O’Neill stated that the fire service has started putting traffic cones in place to clear a path for a fire engine, but people are still parking in front of the cones.
“We don’t tend to make a big thing about it because it’s happening so often and for so long, but people calling into the station or passing by always comment on it,” said Mr O’Neill.
In response to **The Nationalist,** Scoil Mhuire gan Smál stated that the school was “more than happy to offer its assistance to addressing the situation” and was in the process of notifying all parents, requesting them to be “responsible when parking outside the school and to avoid obstructing emergency services at all times”.
