Irate residents say enough is enough and are calling for action to stop traffic chaos around a police headquarters, which has prevented emergency vehicles getting through.

A householder on Crosby Road in Northallerton said amid the latest problems, an ambulance had to turn back because the road was blocked by a school bus which could not get past cars parked on verges.

Concerns have been growing for years about parking ever since the police headquarters was moved to the old Rural Payments Agency building in Northallerton from Newby Wiske, but no extra spaces were provided for police and staff vehicles. This has meant many people leave their cars in the residential streets around the HQ rather than pay in car parks in the town centre.

The resident, who asked not to be named, protested: "Ever since the police moved their HQ to the Crosby Road site in Northallerton, the parking in the surrounding streets has been atrocious. It is particularly bad in Crosby Road where all the residents park on one side of the road only. When the police staff come and park on the opposite side of the road, chaos ensues.

"Large vehicles either struggle to get through or can't get through at all. One of my pictures shows an ambulance turning around as the road is blocked by a school bus that is having to reverse as it can't get through.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

"Also by-laws are being broken by parking on the grass verges. Police, North Yorkshire highways, local councillors and the police and crime commissioner have been contacted. Meetings have been held, but no action has been put into place to stop the problems. All the residents agree something needs to be done."

During the pandemic the situation eased because many people were working from home. Now however many more staff have returned to work.

North Yorkshire county councillor Caroline Dickinson said: "It is not fair on these residents, the situation with the bus and the ambulance was the final straw. I have been calling for meetings with the Commissioner and North Yorkshire Police. Action has to be taken to sort this out.

"It seems to have gone on and on, we need business people to get involved as well to see what can be done. There may not be a complete solution but we have to work it out. This is a residential area, how would other people like it, if cars were left on verges and outside their homes?"

North Yorkshire Police, Crime and Fire Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe was contacted for a comment.