YOUR issue on April 8 included mention of the access difficulties experienced by the fire service to the McCarthy and Stone development at Giffords Court, Melksham.

This serious problem also, of course, applies to the ambulance service. The time wasted could tragically mean the difference between life and death.

You report that in a letter to Melksham Town Council Norman Carter, estates manager for the managing agents, Peverel Services, accused residents of inconsiderate parking. The true cause of the problem is that when the earliest residents were purchasing apartments they were assured by sales staff that the parking spaces would be sufficient as McCarthy and Stone had wide experience of such needs. They sold apartments to many car owners knowing full well there were insufficient parking spaces, with no allowance for visitors' parking.

The estates manager was informed over 16 months ago that there was insufficient space in the event of a major fire or smoke incident for residents to comply with the house fire regulations and assemble in the car park, having regard to the need for various service vehicles to gain ready access.

Your readers may decide who are the inconsiderate parties in this chaotic and possibly life-threatening situation. Can it be old and infirm residents who need easy access to and from their cars? Have the developers, with their vast experience, been inconsiderate and not straightforward in misleading earlier purchasers? Is the management company delinquent in failing to ensure the fire regulations are workable and inconsiderate in pretending there is no problem?

It is to be hoped that Melksham Town Council will be able to initiate appropriate action to ensure that A Disaster Waiting to Happen is avoided.

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