A NEIGHBOUR could not leave her home by car because her road was blocked for over an hour by an ambulance during a 'life and death' emergency.

Amberley Close in Blackpole, Worcester, was blocked by an ambulance for over an hour on Saturday.

Cllr Jill Desayrah previously organised a petition to have the grass verge area by the road converted into parking spaces although had been told by Worcestershire County Council it could not be done because of services beneath the surface, making the job 'too expensive'.

She was contacted by a woman, who did not criticise the ambulance service, saying the situation highlighted the need for extra parking, and even a dedicated bay for ambulances so that paramedics could get to patients more easily in an emergency and residents were not blocked in.

Worcester News: SOLUTION?: The paving and manhole cover in Winchcombe Drive in Worcester which Cllr Jill Desayrah showed proved that services and parking could co-exist SOLUTION?: The paving and manhole cover in Winchcombe Drive in Worcester which Cllr Jill Desayrah showed proved that services and parking could co-exist (Image: Supplied)

Cllr Desayrah,  argued it had been done already in Winchcombe Drive with concrete paving and a manhole cover to allow access.

"It has been done there. Why not in Amberley Close? I don't think it's beyond the wit of man," said the Labour councillor who has now raised the job again with Worcestershire County Council.

In October 2022, Cllr Desayrah, said ambulances and other emergency vehicles, including police and fire engines, may not be able to get through because of all the double-parked cars.

Worcester News: SPACE: The grass verge is where Cllr Jill Desayrah said the parking spaces could go SPACE: The grass verge is where Cllr Jill Desayrah said the parking spaces could go (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The resident told the Worcester News: "The issue with parking is pretty bad here and there have been a lot of cars pranged. I could not get through at all. I was told it was life or death and my thoughts go out to the person who was suffering the emergency.

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"This affected around 10 houses. I think there should be a dedicated bay for an ambulance if they could just get rid of the grass verge and create more parking."

Worcester News: FLASHBACK: Cllr Jill Desayrah in October 2022 having launched a petition for more parking in Amberley Close in Worcester FLASHBACK: Cllr Jill Desayrah in October 2022 having launched a petition for more parking in Amberley Close in Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to a medical emergency at a private address on Amberley Close.

"Two ambulances attended the scene. On arrival we discovered one patient, a woman, who was in a serious condition. Following treatment at the scene she was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further treatment."

“We always encourage our staff to park considerately wherever possible. However, on occasions when attending the most serious category of calls, where every second counts, there may be a requirement for staff to block the road. In circumstances where this happens, we will always try to move the vehicle as quickly as possible, once the emergency has been dealt with.”

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: "Initial exploration from our engineers highlighted multiple utility services are running at the proposed site in Amberley Close. It is a service access point, which prevents this location from being suitable for the works requested."