DRIVERS in Barrassie and Troon are being urged to be considerate when they see emergency services with blue flashing lights on the roads.

An incident at a house in Barrassie on Saturday, April 10 saw fire and rescue crews, police as well an ambulance sent to aid a person suspected of collapsing within a locked house.

But despite the blue flashing lights, drivers have been accused of failing to move out of the way and were found double parked on double yellow lines, delaying the process by approximately four minutes.

Sources who were involved in Saturday’s incident are appealing to residents to be more understanding in these situations.
On the day in question a doctor could not gain access to check on the casualty, and emergency services were on their way to assist.

An eyewitness said: “Blue lights were flashing, but at Walker Avenue they were held up by people who had double parked and they could not get through. 

“Despite using sirens they were delayed, so we’re the police who were behind them. 

“The owner of one of the cars eventually moved but is was in no hurray. This just beggars belief.

“This sort of carelessness can affect any form of transport including the bus services which cannot take a different route.

“Although I would say it is vital that emergency services are able to drive through roads without being postponed at all.”

On the day in question, no-one was seriously ill but people across South Ayrshire are being reminded that seconds save lives and to consider the effect parking has on others.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Officers responding to priority calls will attend immediately, always ensuring that they do so in a safe and appropriate manner, this often requires officers to use their emergency lighting and audible sirens.
 

“In situations where an emergency vehicle has activated it’s lighting and sirens it is important that we have the co-operation of members of the public and that they adhere to traffic legislation by making way to allow the vehicle to pass.

“This should be the case for any emergency vehicle including Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service.”

“Any delay in an emergency vehicle attending a priority call can have a serious impact on those requiring assistance.”