In a bid to break a cycle of anti-social behaviour in Letchworth, a car park in the town centre is to start closing early.

From Monday 17 October the Garden Square multi-storey car park will close at 7pm due to an increase in anti-social behaviour within it.

North Herts Council says the early closure is a temporary measure, supported by the Garden Square Shopping Centre. It is set to continue until Christmas, in the hope that it will break the anti-social behaviour pattern within the car park.

The anti-social behaviour has caused significant criminal damage to council rooms within the car park, as well as an increase in graffiti within the stairwells. The council has also received complaints from businesses and properties around the car park.

The council has surveyed the number of vehicles parking in the car park after 7pm and has found that the number of vehicles parked after 7 is limited, with only 4 to 6 cars still parked at this time.

The car park will close at a later time to accommodate special events or late-night shopping in the town centre in the run up to Christmas. Consideration is also being given to what other measures can be put in place to combat the anti-social behaviour.

The council has placed site notices at the entrance to the car park and on the stair wells to let users of the car park know about the early closure and Season Ticket holders have been notified. Vehicles parked after 6pm will have a notice placed on their windscreen reminding them of the closure.

Garden Square Multi Storey

Cllr Ruth Brown, North Herts Council's Executive Member for Planning and Transport said: "We apologise for any inconvenience the temporary early closure may cause but we have an obligation to ensure that our car parks are safe and not intimidating places. We have received numerous complaints regarding anti-social and dangerous behaviour, and we need to take action."

Cllr Ian Mantle, North Herts Council's Deputy Executive Member for Planning and Transport said: "We will continue to monitor the complaints from adjacent businesses and residents, occurrences of anti-social behaviour and other factors, with the aim of re-opening at the earliest safe opportunity." For more information on parking in North Hertfordshire, visit https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/home/parking