A residents' association is concerned that parking issues will arise if a potential housing development goes forward.

A garage site in Liverpool Road, Watford, has been earmarked for development - one of 50 to appear in Watford Borough Council's draft local plan.

A public consultation for the draft local plan was held in October where many members of the Vicarage Village Residents' Association expressed their concerns of any potential development.

Lata Rees, one member of the residents' association, said she was concerned that “work has already started in cleaning up the garages and conservation area”.

Despite Peter Taylor, the elected Mayor of Watford, addressing a letter explaining work has not been conducted, Ms Rees says she is “unconvinced”.

Peter Taylor, the elected Mayor of Watford, said: “I know that parking in Liverpool Road and the surrounding streets is a problem for residents. Removing the garages would be a backwards step, given how well used they are.

“I have decided not to progress any housing development on this site until we have found a way to address concerns raised by residents.

"With the government tripling our housing targets, there will be no easy answers to where new homes should go but I want to work with residents to make sure we get this right for the future of our town.”

In the email sent to those opposed, the Mayor made it clear that no work will be done in the "foreseeable future" and that he is currently not supporting plans for housing on the site.

However, he did also write: “We have a legal duty to look at all the options available to us – otherwise we will lose any local control of the process.”

A spokesperson at Watford Borough Council has acknowledged that the next steps are not being carried out yet, which would involve the council drafting a development proposal for the site and to carry out a planning consultation with Liverpool Road residents.

While surveyors have inspected the land, Watford Borough Council has confirmed no work has yet been carried out.