Declares that recently a fire alarm went off at Ellel St John’s Primary school; further declares that during the fire alarm, fire services were unable to access Chapel Lane as vehicles were parked in a way which did not allow access; notes that on this occasion it was a false alarm but in a real emergency this blockage could have prevented fire services from reaching the school in time.
The petitioners therefore urge the House of Commons to urge the Department to raise this issue with Lancashire County Council in order to prevent this incident from happening again.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Cat Smith, Official Report, 17 October 2023; Vol. 738, c. 295.]
[P002861]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Richard Holden):
Local authorities have a duty, under section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to exercise their functions under the Act to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic—including pedestrians.
Responsibility for traffic management on local roads within Lancashire rests with Lancashire County Council, which is best placed to consider how local needs can be effectively met. It is entirely a matter for Lancashire County Council to decide on the nature and scope of parking policies, and to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local businesses and those who work in and visit the areas.
Where problems occur, the Department for Transport looks to local authorities to use their traffic management powers under the 1984 Act to make traffic regulation orders to implement appropriate traffic management measures, such as the provision of parking spaces, residential parking schemes or other parking controls to balance the supply and demand for road space in the light of local needs.
Lancashire County Council has taken civil parking enforcement powers and is able to enforce parking restrictions in Galgate.