A car park has been labelled “disgraceful” and “dirty” while calls have also been made to make it more “disable friendly”.

Furzehill Road car park in Borehamwood town centre has been criticised for its poor state, smell, broken lift, out of order parking machines, and blocked drains which has led to flooding.

In particular, the broken lift has left disabled people and those with mobility issues forced to head up and down the steep ramp which leads to the car park.

Georgina Whorlow, 33, says she was stranded after she tried to scale the ramp back to her car.

Ms Whorlow, who has lower mobility issues, says she had got halfway up with her double buggy with her two children inside, when a passer-by was fortunately on hand to help her up.

She said: “I haven’t parked there since because it was so difficult. I have what they call an invisible disability and some days are worse than others.

“I couldn’t physically get up the ramp. It’s impossible for me to park there until the lift works again.”

Borehamwood Times:

Borehamwood resident Michelle Jonas believes the stairwell is also hazardous.

“It’s not fit for kids or the elderly to walk up or down. And because the lift never works, it makes it impossible for the disabled to use this car park. This stair way has been like this for a while now and has only been getting worse.”

The car park also recently flooded, near the entrance and exit to the car park.

Michelle Vince, Labour councillor for Cowley Hill says she was “astonished” and “shocked” when she saw the state of the car park.

“It’s unacceptable and disgraceful that our residents have found themselves in this situation. It's filthy and the smell is horrendous.”

Hertsmere Borough Council, who own the car park, said “they are aware of a number of issues that have recently arisen”.

A council spokeswoman said: “Instructions have been issued to have the stairwells, including the steps, repaired and for the surrounding area to be redecorated.

“Given the exposed location of the passenger lift, it is prone to windborne leaves and other debris interfering with the mechanism of the lift doors, which has caused a number of break downs.

“Over the Christmas break, there was a blocked drain in the car park that caused some flooding and this was repaired almost immediately. The car park pay machines are in the process of being repaired after some anti-social behaviour.

“We are working with the intermediary tenant’s agent at solutions to overcome this problem. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”