Watford’s elected mayor has said the new link road to Watford General Hospital will help provide more jobs for the town.

Dorothy Thornhill said as well as improving access to the hospital the scheme will pave the way for regeneration of the land around Cardiff Road.

Her comments come after Watford Borough Council agreed plans to build the road from Dalton Way to Willow Lane on Thursday.

Following the meeting, Mayor Thornhill said: “The roads will help reduce traffic congestion in this part of Watford and improve access to the hospital, so I’m very pleased that we have been able to work with local residents and park users to get the better design solution we wanted.

Watford Observer: Map of the new hospital road.

“The plans being worked up for the Health Campus site will also see new employment units for companies to move into. This will lead to more jobs, so these new roads are really crucial to the local economy and the job situation for years to come.”

The new road is the first step in the long-awaited Watford health campus project, which promises to develop the land behind Vicarage Road with 600 new homes and a new hospital.

The road will go through the Oxhey Park playing fields, across Wiggenhall Road, and through the Cardiff Road Industrial Estate, before connecting with Willow Lane.

The overall cost of the new roads is estimated at £18.5million. West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is providing £7million towards the cost, with the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership contributing a further £6million.

John Gourd, Chair of Hertfordshire partnership said: “This new road infrastructure is important to the area. Of course, hundreds of local people are currently employed at Watford Hospital but the plans being developed for the Health Campus site will also see derelict land regenerated to provide good quality employment space.

"We see this as a key area to provide future economic growth and many new jobs, which will benefit local people.”