A DELIVERY driver is concerned for the safety of care home residents saying he has found the only route to the facility is blocked on multiple occasions.

Gordon Kennedy, who delivers food to Caledonia Care Home in Saltcoats, said: “It’s just an inconvenience for me, but if there’s a fire in that nursing home nobody’s coming out alive. There’s no way at times a fire engine will get up Sidney street.”

Mr Kennedy has been covering the area for years and took it upon himself to contact the fire service, council and police six months ago.

On Tuesday morning last week, Mr Kennedy was taking one of two weekly deliveries to the care home in his 18 tonne truck when he found he could not get down the one-way street due to a car parked on the road and facing the wrong way.

He told the Herald: “If there’s a fire the fire service may want to just plow them out of the way, but you can’t do that.

“If there’s a fire in there, they’re gubbed.”

Mr Kennedy said the problem has got worse since lockdown due to people not driving to work.

He said: “How does the council give planning permission for that, with that as an access. It’s shocking it was allowed.”

Rishi Sodha, care director of Handsale which owns the home, said he is well aware of the issues and have liaised with the council and Police Scotland.

As a result, more double yellow lines were introduced, however they believe more could be done to enforce this.

He said: “Despite these issues, we’d like to clarify that at no point has any resident been denied access to emergency services.

“In order to ensure this stays the same in future and that our residents continue to enjoy a high standard of safety from Caledonia Care Home, we will continue to work with the council to resolve these issues.”

A police spokesperson said: “In the last three months we have received one call regarding parking on Sidney Street and this was yesterday (Tuesday, May 27). The Three Towns Locality Policing Team are aware and will monitor the situation.”

The police ask all drivers to consider access for emergency service vehicles when choosing a location to park.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of parking issues at Sidney Street and have previously carried out a letter drop and placed notices on street furniture to remind vehicle owners not to block access for other vehicles and pedestrians.

“However, the enforcement of any issues relating to obstructive parking is a matter for the police and we would advise anyone who has concerns to report it to them in the first instance.

“We will raise the issue with our partners at Police Scotland.”

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander Paul McAtear said: “Restricted access in any street could delay our emergency response to incidents where every second counts.

“We would therefore ask members of the public to be mindful of any potential obstructions caused by parked cars where they live.

“We will always work with local partner agencies to find solutions to these types of issues.”