Residents living around Arundel Road in Abbots Langley are looking forward to seeing the back of traffic and parking problems there following a recent site visit by the council.

In November last year, Balmoral Road resident, Julian Delicata, was becoming increasingly frustrated with HGV’s coaches, taxis and cars congregating in Arundel Road and was looking for action to be taken.

Since then, the problem has continued.

He said: "We have seen people that sleep here in camper vans and lorries overnight, HGV drivers taking their designated ‘tachometer breaks’, asbestos waste carrying skip lorries, 50-seat coaches and Watford Council Waste Collection vans, just to name a few.

"It is beyond a joke. All the litter they generate is usually thrown in the bushes and the wooded area is often used as a toilet, which is totally disgusting.

"The shops at Katherine Place have become so overwhelmed that the very small car park simply cannot cope, and we the residents suffer as a result.

"Since the 450 plus new homes have been built on the old Aerodrome site, things are far worse than before and now that another 100 homes are planned in Woodside Road, things will only get worse, which is why action is needed now."

Following the line of complaints, Leavesden Councillor Sara Bedford had a site meeting with County Council and three Rivers District Council officers two weeks ago to discuss solutions to the problem.

It was suggested double yellow lines be put in on both sides of Arundel Road and Balmoral Road, up to the first houses, and beginning at the roundabout exit, and fences and bushes to be put up to stop informal accesses into Leavesden Country Park from Arundel Road.

Councillor Bedford said: "When these homes and shops were built, it was not envisaged that Arundel Road would be used as an overflow car park and sleeping bay.

"Parking here is causing a traffic hazard, with cars forced to drive towards the roundabout on the wrong side of the road. There have been a number of near misses.

"In addition, the parking and turning of HGVs has led to noise, fumes and disruption to residents of Arundel Road and Balmoral Road, particularly during the night and early hours of the morning - this is unfair and unreasonable.

"I have been able to draw the councils' attention to the problems here, by the testimony of residents and a site visit with highways officers. I hope we will now see action on both traffic and parking issues later this year."

Mr Delicata added: "I’m glad to see that finally Three Rivers District Council have finally accepted there is a real problem with unwanted traffic and the anti-social behaviour of some of the drivers of the vehicles that have been using Arundel Road as an overflow car park for Katherine Place.

"I’d like to thank the local councillors for all their help in getting something done about the issues.

"Sara Bedford and Martin Brooks have been very helpful and totally accept that what is going on here in unacceptable and actions needed to be put in place."