CITY leaders and councillors are set to meet to discuss solutions to stamp out parking problems in Worcester's Arboretum.

The move comes after firecrews had to ditch their engines three times in a week and race to blazes on foot after cars blocked their way.

Councillor Colin Bruton is calling for action after worried Arboretum residents bombarded him with telephone calls.

"When you have 15 residents call you and ask you to do something then you have two choices," said Coun Bruton at last night's development services policy and review committee meeting.

"You can either try and get something done or you can ignore them, and I'm not going to ignore them."

Coun Bruton suggested "herringbone-style" parking would clear vehicles from one side of the street and create more parking spaces on the other.

And after discussions with firecrews, council officers are to consider banning parking around street corners because it hampers engines trying to turn into roads.

Head of engineering and transportation at Worcester Transportation Partnership, John Day, explained engines did not have to be directly outside a house to fight a blaze, only within 140ft of a downstairs property.

"The fire service is content to deal with areas such as these, where they know the ideal solution of banning parking on all sides of the streets at all times would be an unacceptable one."

Committee chairman Mike Layland will meet officers and Arboretum councillors to discuss solutions and report back to the next meeting, on Tuesday, January 8 next year.

"Residents are now aware it could be their turn next," said Coun Layland.

"I welcome the reporting on this because it brought to light the areas of the city that create problems for emergency vehicles."

"Anything that can be done to safeguard people's lives, properties and vehicles from being damaged by engines I'm sure the fire service will welcome," said Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade.

"If we can help in any way, we would be delighted."

n Opinion: Page 6