A large patch of wasteland in Radlett currently used for fly-tipping should be turned into a car park to take pressure of Watling Street.

That's the idea being put forward by Radlett and Elstree businessman Barry Allsuch, who said in its current state the land is a "disgrace".

The land, running between the railway station and the shops in Watling Street, has been empty for years, and is regularly used for fly-tipping, which attracts rats from a nearby brook to the village.

When the rubbish from the land goes into the brook it overflows, which Mr Allsuch feared could cause pollution and flooding.

"It's criminal. It is a huge piece of land, but it is totally overgrown. It has been used as a rubbish tip for years."

He said that currently the land, which contains rubbish including old shop fittings, discarded wheelie bins and rubble, was an eyesore that gave people the wrong idea about Radlett when they arrived for the first time on the train.

He hopes somebody will pick up his idea, find out who owns the land, and persuade them to sell it to a car park operator or Hertsmere Borough Council.

"It wouldn't take much, if the local authority could be persuaded to take out a compulsory purchase order on the land, and then bring it into use."

Mr Allsuch said this would relieve the parking problems at the railway station end of Watling Street, where illegal parking is contributing to increasing traffic congestion.

"It wouldn't take much to do, but it would get rid of an eyesore, keep the rats at bay, stop fly-tipping and also give the centre of Radlett a little bit of relief from the parking problems."

Councillor Stephen Burke, from Aldenham Parish Council, said: "I think it's a brilliant idea. Anything we can do to improve parking in Radlett would be phenomenal. It is a huge problem in the village."

Mr Burke said recently an articulated lorry had been parked illegally in Watling Street for three days, causing real problems for villagers.

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