A car park in Chandler’s Ford where people risk twisting their ankles on the uneven surface has been expanded without the correct permission from the council.

HCE, a UK supplier of commercial kitchens and catering equipment, has submitted a retrospective planning application to Eastleigh Borough Council to extend the parking area at its location on Victory Close in Chandler’s Ford.

The company has said that parking has become increasingly challenging due to lorries parking on both sides of the road, which restricts and reduces access to available parking spaces.

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The proposed area for expansion, previously an overgrown, muddy wasteland with only two waste bins, poses safety hazards.

HCE has described the area as “unsightly”, “uneven”, and “full of pits”, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk safely and increasing the risk of twisting an ankle, which represents a safety risk.

To address these issues, HCE proposed covering the wasteland with concrete but in its application form for the change of use, it said it had already been completed.

The firm said the improvement aims to make the waste bins more accessible for collection vehicles and create three additional parking spaces, helping to alleviate the current parking shortage.

Eastleigh Borough Council planners have set July 16 as a target date for a decision on application F/25/99168.