PLANS to fence off a block of land on the corner of Ashley and Rupert streets will spell traffic chaos for commuters, a resident has warned.

It is believed the VicTrack land will be fenced off to stop commuters at Tottenham train station from illegal parking.

The block is also used as a dumping site.

Stony Creek Ward councillor Sel Sanli has written to VicTrack to ask them to clean up the area and turn it into a proper car park rather than close it off.

He said it was important to create more car parking spaces at Tottenham station because of increased patronage on public transport.

There are 72 parking spots available on the southern side of the station, most of which are filled up before 9am.

Cr Sanli believes VicTrack plan on fencing off the site because it is “not safe”.

Thirty-eight cars were parked on the block when Star visited the site last Wednesday.

A further 22 cars were parked along Rupert St between Ashley and Alberta streets.

The site has no lighting and the land has been dug up in places by cars and other machinery.

Rupert St resident Alan McCartney said cars had started to use the block because of the petrol price hike and were causing traffic congestion down Rupert and Ashley streets.

Mr McCartney is concerned that Rupert St will become even more congested if the site is closed off.

“I’ve got sympathy for people who travel by train, but it does create problems (for parking),” he said.

Mr McCartney said many commuters were being assaulted because of poor lighting.

VicTrack did not respond to Star’s calls for comment by deadline.