THE problem of dangerous and inconsiderate parking in Branscombe needs to be addressed, a fed up resident has urged. The issue was brought up by Marie Dowell, a Branscombe resident, at the annual general meeting in May. She said: It is murder for ambulan

THE problem of dangerous and inconsiderate parking in Branscombe needs to be addressed, a fed up resident has urged.

The issue was brought up by Marie Dowell, a Branscombe resident, at the annual general meeting in May.

She said: "It is murder for ambulances, fire engines or anything to get through sometimes.

"If you're the person having a heart attack in the village you need the ambulance to get to you."

Marie said it was particularly bad on a Sunday morning and in the summer months, when a lot of visitors come to the village to take advantage of the good weather.

PC Steve Speariett, of Seaton Police, said: "If I see any vehicle which I believe is causing a danger or an obstruction I will give them a warning or a ticket."

He also encouraged residents to take down registration numbers and inform the police if they consider a car to be causing an obstruction.

Lack of parking is believed to contribute to the on-going problem of grid-locked or slow moving traffic on the roads in the village.

In the past the parish council has approached the National Trust, which owns a lot of land in the area, and enquired about it providing extra parking.

District councillor Mike Green said: "I have spoken to the National Trust before and they are doing their bit by providing spaces for holiday lets."

In the last year the congestion on School Lane has been eased through the introduction of a permissive path.

This leads from the primary school to the village hall through land owned by the National Trust.

Now parents or guardians can park their cars in the village hall car park and walk up to the school via the new path to collect their children.

Cllr Green added: "The National Trust was very helpful in solving this problem as the path goes across its land."

As of yet there has been no suitable solution which addresses traffic congestion on the main road in the village, however Cllr Green has assured residents the situation is not being ignored.

He said: "There is definitely an issue about parking in Branscombe for several reasons- it is just the nature of the place.

"Visitors will park in passing places so traffic slows down and there is nowhere to pass and on several occasions. I have talked with Branscombe Parish Council about general parking and traffic problems."

A spokesman for the National Trust said, because of the lay of the land there is not "anywhere suitable" to create another car park.