THIS is the shocking moment an ambulance was blocked from reaching a child having a seizure.
The child’s mum has now slammed her area’s low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) after planters made paramedics run up the road to her home.
Manchester City Council is now facing growing calls from locals to remove the scheme in Withington, Manchester, after it was implemented in August 2023.
Charli Panter’s 10-month-old daughter, Nola, began to have a seizure on New Year’s Eve last year.
The 34-year-old said: “Nola was burning hot and then she started having a seizure in my arms, she was shaking and rigid.”
Partner Nick called the ambulance when Nola’s lips began to turn blue and the baby was silent.
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Footage then shows the ambulance parking around the corner on a nearby street and paramedics having to run up the road.
Charli said she had to navigate the ambulance staff on how to get past the planters.
She said: “The paramedics said it was a nightmare getting to the house because of it.”
The longer the paramedics took to arrive, the worse Charli thought the effects of Nola’s seizure would be.
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The Sun understands the 999 call was recorded at 11.48, with the first vehicle, a response car, on the scene at 11.59. This was followed by an ambulance 2 minutes later at 12.01.
The ambulance left the scene with the patient at 12.42, arriving at Wythenshawe Hospital at 12.58.
A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson says: “We’ve not had any internal reports of concerns around this incident through our official reporting systems.
“If the family would like to get in contact with us directly, we can look into it more closely.
“However, communication and satellite navigation systems in Greater Manchester’s ambulances are currently being upgraded as part of a national programme, which will allow permanent road changes to be updated more frequently.”
The planters have now instigated a community revolt against the low-traffic neighbourhood with locals launching a petition for their removal.
Locals say the scheme doesn’t work as it: blocks vehicles, creates blind spots around the planters, congests main roads, increases emissions, and now taxi firms refuse to serve the estate.
The petition says there is an “overwhelming majority who oppose this scheme”.
One signer says: “Everyone is having to make longer journeys increasing pollution and traffic is now being diverted onto narrower roads. This does not make any sense whatsoever.”
Another says: “I’ve had several near misses. I have witnessed several vans and cars mounting the pavement to get passed those ridiculous planters.”
Residents feel like the scheme was misleadingly pitched to them before it was implemented.
But, the council says views were sought from more than 2000 households and it remained open to feedback.
A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said it believes the benefits of the low-traffic scheme far outweigh the disruptions.
It said: “Since the trial changes were introduced in Withington in August 2023 there have been anecdotal reports of emergency services not being able to directly access streets as a result of traffic filters.
“Speaking directly with representatives in the emergency services during this trial we have not been made aware of any serious concerns regarding their ability to access properties in the area.
“Changes to Satnav maps have been accelerated via TfGM to ensure all motorists were provided updated routes which avoided closed
off streets. Updated information was showing on Google Maps by October 2023.
“This Safer Streets scheme is, at its core, designed everyone in mind but it will often require vehicles to take an alternative route.
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“Ultimately, this scheme is about bringing about change which makes it easier and more accessible for residents to walk, wheel or
cycle, reduce rat running and improve overall road safety in the neighbourhood.
“The Council has been receptive to resident feedback throughout the process, including adding additional bollards to prevent people
driving through filters, as well as making road marking clearer at diagonal filters.
What is a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN)?
LTNs have been brought in by local councils in a bid to make some areas of cities more pedestrian and cyclist friendly.
Some LTNs have seen roads blocked off with planters or bollards but in others the restrictions are policed by warning signs and a system of CCTV cameras.
The cameras record the registration plates of vehicles entering the zones and any vehicles not allowed in are sent a fine.
Campaigners against LTNs say the schemes just shift drivers onto the main roads, adding even more to congestion and so increasing level of pollution.
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James Halpin
