A piece of wasteland owned by Network Rail in a residential area of Watford has become an “eyesore” which the company has a duty to tidy, according to Hertfordshire County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst.

The Liberal Democrat councillor says he has contacted the company numerous times since May but the mess remains on the fenced-off land at Queens Place next to the line into Watford Junction train station.

Councillor Giles-Medhurst, who lives in Watford, said: "I have been asking and pestering staff at Network Rail to tidy up the land they own at the end of Queens Place, Watford, and next to the steps to Radlett Road since May.

“Despite repeatedly, almost monthly, requests we have got nowhere. I have now written to the chief executive Iain Cocher and am collecting a residents' petition demanding action.

“If that gets nowhere the next step is to arrange to raise this in Parliament."

He added: “The land is an eyesore, especially to residents living next to and opposite it, and the fencing is a disgrace half falling into the footway.

“It just encourages dumping and makes the area look run down. Residents deserve better than this."

We are waiting for comment from Network Rail.