Residents at a flat block development in Hitchin are up in arms over plans to get rid of their communal garden to accommodate two parking spaces.

North Herts Council wants to remove existing trees and excavate the communal garden at Harkness Court in Franklin Gardens, and put in hardstanding to accommodate a fire applicance.

Two existing parking spaces a few metres away would need to be removed to provide access.

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Resident John Bentick said: "Removing two existing parking bays and rebuilding them seven metres closer to 55 Harkness Court does not bring anything of value to the tenants.

"This would remove a substantial part of the already limited tenants' communal area, and would also remove the safe walkway to the bin store."

Resident Susanna Casserly said "residents are very angry" and had "no prior consultation".

She said: "It would mean uprooting small but established trees and our rotary washing lines. Where is the green agenda in this?"

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Another resident added: "It's not going to increase the parking spaces, and we believe it would be extremely dangerous, as there are paths which residents use to walk to the bin area, and their flats. I can visualise cars turning around or reversing and someone being knocked down and badly injured or killed.

"It will be an accident waiting to happen.

"The grassed area is where residents can sit in the nice weather, talk and catch up. Why take this away from us?"

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North Herts Council owns 55 Harkness Court and is converting the building from offices back into flats. 

A spokesperson for the council explained: "We need to move parking spaces as they don't meet current building fire regulations - a fire engine should be able to park within 45 metres of our property, but the current spaces are too far away."

The council says it sent consultation letters to 19 properties on June 12 (flats 37-54 and 56). People have until August 30 to have their say.

Visit north-herts.gov.uk and search for reference 23/01198/FP in the planning portal to view the plans in full and give your views.