AN ANGRY resident has hit out at town centre workers parking on her street and leaving her and her neighbours to park elsewhere. And her complaint has been backed by a community champion who says it is a much wider chronic problem. Rachel Mason, 23, of

AN ANGRY resident has hit out at town centre workers parking on her street and leaving her and her neighbours to park elsewhere.

And her complaint has been backed by a community champion who says it is a much wider "chronic" problem.

Rachel Mason, 23, of Mount Garrison, Hitchin, said workers park their vehicles on her road each morning because it is free and they only pick them up late in the afternoon once they have finished their shifts.

She said: "This forces us to park in adjacent roads where we could face fines due to parking restrictions. I was fined last week because of this.

"What we quite often see is the road filling up at 8.30am by drivers in their work uniforms. It's not shoppers, it's workers. It's going too far now."

Ms Mason believes this problem has not been helped by a recent 45 per cent hike in car parking charges.

"It's not just about finding somewhere to park, it's also about people trying to avoid paying parking charges and I believe the recent rise in parking charges has not helped the problem in any way," she said.

Although the problem has not yet been discussed by community action group Hitchin Forum, secretary Ellie Clarke said she can fully sympathise with the residents of Mount Garrison and other roads close to the town centre.

She said: "It's a chronic problem. I think it's pretty inconsiderate parking there all day, especially when there is the Lairage car park just on the other side of the town centre."

A spokesman for North Hertfordshire District Council said: "As far as Mount Garrison goes, it is a public road with a double yellow line on one side and no parking restrictions on the other so anyone can park there.

"NHDC is reviewing this and looking at both Garrison Court and Hollow Lane to come up with a scheme that will satisfy the needs of the town centre and the residents in the area."

NHDC planning and portfolio holder Richard Thake said: "I didn't want to do a knee jerk reaction and sort out Garrison which would displace the cars from that road and force them elsewhere.

"I want to look at all the district but we are aware of it and are working towards doing something about it.