A fire chief has joined neighbours calling for parking restrictions in an Earlsfield street, after a car flipped and rolled on Monday morning.

Your Local Guardian:

Complaint: Firemen said they had trouble accessing the crash

David Waterman, blue watch manager at Battersea fire station, blamed inconsiderate parking for causing access problems in Tilehurst Road.

An elderly woman was injured this week when a car reportedly hit another parked vehicle and overturned.

Mr Waterman said: "The concern for us is the inconsiderate parking because it hampers our ability to attend incidents.

"People park their vehicles in such a way that it doesn't allow us enough room to get our appliances to the incident.

"There are no parking restrictions - it is the only road around there without any - and therefore people use it as a means to park there and catch a train from Earlsfield."

Your Local Guardian:

Scene: Some neighbours want controlled parking, others do not

He said while the road filling up with cars and creating hazards for children was a concern, his main issue was the access.

Speaking about the crash, he said: "It was difficult to access the scene.

"The car was parked at an angle and the woman involved struck that car on the side - it contributed to the cause of the accident."

Mr Waterman added that he feels parking restrictions would "address the issue" because most residents in the road have off-street parking.

Sarah Pusey, a mother-of-two who lives in Tilehurst Road, echoed Mr Waterman's fears and called on Wandsworth Council to review the situation.

She said: "The accident this morning could have easily killed a child if it had happened during the school run.

"The road is a bit of a rat run and people struggle to park - I have had to dodge my son from the kerb twice because of someone trying to get through a gap.

"There are cars all over the road, it is all higgledy piggledy - the police and angry and we are angry."

She added that she contacted the council in the aftermath of Monday's crash to invite an officer to take a look but was told the person dealing with it was not there.

Fellow Tilehurst Road resident Mandy Dickinson said she was concerned one website advised the street was a place to park for commuters going to Gatwick airport.

The elderly woman injured in Monday's incident suffered minor injuries, according to police, who were called at 11.21am.

A consultation was carried out by Wandsworth Council in 2012, asking Tilehurst Road residents for their thoughts on a 7am to 10am weekday parking restriction.

However, a clear majority of respondents said they did not want it to be introduced. Another survey carried out this year also indicated 57 per cent of residents were against a controlled parking zone.

A council spokesman added: “We have also asked residents here on several occasions over the years if they want parking restrictions and the majority have always said no, including to yet another consultation carried out earlier this year, the results of which will be considered by councillors next week.

“It is important that we listen to what residents tell us and always look into any proposals they believe would benefit the area.”

  • Do you live in Tilehurst Road? Should parking restrictions be introduced or not? Contact letters@wandsworthguardian.co.uk with your thoughts.