THE parking of an apparently abandoned car did nothing to deter workmen undertaking re-surfacing on a Royston car park. Residents in Sun Hill and Coronation Avenue were shocked to see contractors, working for social housing association North Hertfordshire

THE parking of an apparently abandoned car did nothing to deter workmen undertaking re-surfacing on a Royston car park.

Residents in Sun Hill and Coronation Avenue were shocked to see contractors, working for social housing association North Hertfordshire Homes, carrying out the work on the car park around the black Rover 200.

As a result, the area of the car park beneath the car has yet to be resurfaced.

A spokesman for North Hertfordshire Homes, who own the car park, said: "This car park is provided for the use of our tenants living close by.

"The surface was in poor condition and a contract was placed with Stevenage Property Services to carry out work resurfacing.

"Unfortunately, a car was abandoned on the site and although North Hertfordshire Homes is taking steps to have the vehicle removed, this is a long drawn out process unless the car is in a dangerous condition.

"Accordingly it was agreed that the contractor should carry out the resurfacing work around the car and return to finish the job when it is eventually removed," he said.

The spokesman explained that North Herts Homes is required to monitor the vehicle for 28 days to establish that it is genuinely abandoned.

Then it can refer the issue to North Herts District Council, which will remove the vehicle.

It is not known how long the vehicle has been in the car park.