Fire engine blocked in Rye High Street

A fire engine was blocked from reaching the scene of a fire in Rye’s Citadel area on Tuesday morning.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Nov 2014, 13:14 BST
Illegal parking in Rye. 25/2/14 High Street. This car stopped the delivery lorry being able to swing around the corner into West Street, so the driver had to give up and go around the one way system again. SUS-140225-121203001Illegal parking in Rye. 25/2/14 High Street. This car stopped the delivery lorry being able to swing around the corner into West Street, so the driver had to give up and go around the one way system again. SUS-140225-121203001
Illegal parking in Rye. 25/2/14 High Street. This car stopped the delivery lorry being able to swing around the corner into West Street, so the driver had to give up and go around the one way system again. SUS-140225-121203001

The Fire Service was responding to a call at Market Road, shortly after 9.30am, when wood caught fire while a worker was stripping paint for a shop renovation.

The fire appliance was called but could not reach the shop where the fire occurred as it was blocked by a large lorry parked outside Adams the Printers.

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It is the second time this year that a fire engine has been unable to reach a call-out due to illegally parked vehicles.

Rye Mayor Bernardine Fiddimore said: “Some timbers had been ignited by a blowtorch during restoration work. There is now very serious concern that a major incident in the less accessible parts of the town will occur if Fire Services are unable to access.

“I would like to appeal to drivers to park with due care and not cause an obstruction in the narrow streets of Rye. Without enforcement (and that cannot be provided 24/7 even in a perfect world) it has to be that drivers self regulate - and they must.”

Cllr Granville Bantick has asked Rye Town Council to agenda the issue as an emergency item when it meets on Monday November 10.

Related topics:Fire service