It is “inevitable” that someone will die if emergency vehicle access is not improved on one Penryn street, a resident has said.

Richard Craven, of Permarin Road, has spoken out about parked cars blocking the street after an ambulance was unable to reach his granddaughter when she had a fit for the second time in less than six months.

Jodie Craven, the mother of two-year-old Willow Jacka, who suffered a fit last Tuesday morning, was called by paramedics asking if there was another way into the road because the ambulance was having difficulty getting through.

Mr Craven said: “It’s inevitable that if something isn’t done there is going to be a tragedy.”

He added: “There’s been two incidents here this week, one for an elderly lady and one for my granddaughter.

“If the ambulance can’t get through, the fire brigade has absolutely no chance.

“It’s £3,000 or £4,000 needed to get the consultation to add double yellow lines off the ground, but a life is more important than £3,000 or £4,000.”

Mr Craven pointed out that motorists aren’t parked illegally, “just irresponsibly,” and that when the council put polite notices up asking people to be more considerate, they were ignored and torn down.

He said: “I phoned Penryn Town Council and the clerk said that it was out of their hands, it’s down to Cornwall Council.”

“It’s as if they’re just turning a blind eye to the situation. Something’s got to be done.”

He has since tried calling Cormac, and wrote to Sarah Newton, MP for Truro and Falmouth.

Mrs Newton said: “I have today been contacted by my constituent Mr Craven and was very sorry to hear of the recent fit suffered by his granddaughter, the treatment of which was hindered by access problems in Permarin Road.

“I will be making strong representations to the chief executive of Cornwall Council on Mr Craven’s behalf regarding this matter and will press for a permanent solution to these problems as soon as possible.”

Penryn town clerk Michelle Davey said: “The town council has installed temporary signage all along the car park railings requesting people not to park beneath them, but it appears to have had little effect. Clearly, there is therefore no point in posting more permanent signs.

“The only option that seems to be left open to the residents is to continue to press for double yellow lines and there was a clear support for this from the consultation. We did investigate Section 106 funds, but there were none available that could be used for this purpose.

“The issue of vehicles causing an obstruction remains within the remit of the police and Cornwall Council is the authority with responsibility for double yellow lines.”

Ben Dickinson, highways manager for Cormac Solutions, said: “I have already added it to a wishlist that Cornwall Council keeps for issues of that nature, subject to funding.

“However, I have no idea when that funding source will be available due to Cornwall Council resources.”