Double yellow lines in a road popular with commuters who leave their cars there will not be enforced until next summer.

The lines in Station Road, near Elstree and Boreham-wood train station, have no legal bearing until a consultation is carried out, it was revealed this week.

At a meeting of Hertsmere Borough Council’s executive on Wednesday night, Councillor John Donne, transport portfolio holder, outlined a proposal to make people pay to park in Station Road and the surrounding housing estate, which has a footpath leading to the station.

As well as preventing cars blocking the roads, the council’s officers said the controlled parking zone (CPZ) with bays will increase the number of people buying commuter permits, which cost £400 per year.

Currently the double yellow lines along Station Road are a “preventative measure”.

A council spokeswoman confirmed: “They are not legally enforceable because there is no traffic regulation order so we are looking at publishing one.”

Addressing the executive, Mr Donne said: “The council introduced commuter parking permits for use in the Furzehill Road car park, Borehamwood, and Newberries car park, in Radlett. There has been minimal take up.

“Part of the problem, particularly in Borehamwood, is rail commuters have been able to park for free along Station Road and in the new residential development.”

In October, Hertfordshire County Council adopted part of Station Road and others in the estate, which had previously been private, meaning the borough council can now, following a consultation with residents, implement a CPZ.

Money given by the developers of the estate will be used to fund the scheme if it is approved.

Mr Donne added: “It is considered there is now an opportunity to designate parking bays along the railway side of the road for business and commuter permit holders only.”

The council has received complaints from residents near the station regarding the number of commuters parking outside their houses and causing obstructions.

Mandy Pritchard, who lives in the new estate, said restrictions would help alleviate the problems of excessive parking in the surrounding roads.

She said: “When we first moved here people were parking so it was very difficult to get through. As we were getting deliveries and we needed to use a skip when we first arrived it was very difficult for us.

“At one point we had to ask people as they came to collect their cars to park somewhere else for a couple of weeks so the things we needed delivered could get through because the vehicles were just turning back.

“Further down the road on Coleridge Way people park all the way round the bend making it very difficult to get through.”