A disgruntled shop owner is frustrated with the council for not providing updates about the South Oxhey Initiative.

Over the next two years, all shops and businesses in the estate will be demolished to make way for the new development.

Details of upcoming demolition work were published on Three Rivers District Council’s website last week, but a shop owner said this information was not passed on by the council.

The owner also said she had not been given an eviction date so did not know when she would be out of business or if she had time to refurbish her shop. Shopkeepers previously complained to the Watford Observer about the lack of communication from the council, in March this year.

Joti Patel, owner of L.M. Ward Newsagent, Bridlington Road said: “This shop is what puts food on my table. How am I expected to survive in this limbo?

“This has been going on for five years, and still, all we have been told is that the plans are going ahead – a development me and other shop owners never wanted in the first place.

“The council doesn’t care and does whatever it wants. It should be telling us what is happening.

"I want a start and end date. People should know when they have to leave."

However, Three Rivers District Councillor Sara Bedford has said shop keepers have been informed.

She said: “Every single shopkeeper is invited to a meeting every four to six weeks. They do know what is going on.

“They have all been offered new temporary leases, but all know that the shops will be demolished in the next one or two years.

“They might not have an exact date but they have been given a timescale of when it will happen."

A 17,000 ft Lidl supermarket will built in South Oxhey. The council said residents felt they needed a larger food store.

However, Mrs Patel said the addition of a supermarket giant is unsuitable for the area.

“This area has a high number of disabled and elderly people. When my customers cannot get to the store, they call me and I personally deliver their goods,” she said.

“Supermarket giants will not do that for people, they won’t provide that service.”

In the next few weeks Baden Hall will be demolished and work on a temporary car park in Henbury Way will commence.

In September, work on 48 new homes in Hayling Road, Maylands Road and Hallowes Crescent will also start.

Countryside and Home Group, the project developer, is holding a drop-in session at Watford Rural Parish Council Offices, on Saturday 10.