The decision by Mrs Justice Lang to uphold the Secretary of State’s decision to allow the Farm Terrace Allotments to be delisted and incorporated into the council’s Health Campus development marks the end of four years of uncertainty and at times – to say the least – vigorous political and public debate.

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It is now time to come together and work to make a success of one of Watford’s most ambitious public investments of recent times.

This is an imaginative and ambitious project whereby the council will, for the long-term benefit of its residents and their families, be releasing the inherent capital value of a large site in its ownership which at the moment is largely derelict.

At a time when everybody is urging central and local government to support recovery of the economy with more capital public spending, particularly on social housing, I think that we should all recognise the good faith and vision of Watford Borough Council and its Liberal Democrat administration in its efforts to sustain and improve the long-term social and economic wellbeing of the town.

I acknowledge that the loss of Farm Terrace Allotments will be a blow for the current allotment holders, but that loss must be weighed against the gain of supporting the redevelopment of Watford’s hospital and the provision of much-needed new high quality market and affordable housing.

Taking into account the availability of alternative allotment provision (even if not as conveniently located as Farm Terrace), it must be right – as endorsed by Mrs Justice Lang – that it is in the interests of the long-term future of the town that the Farm Terrace Allotments be sacrificed in favour of the overall needs of the Health Campus development.

Such decisions are not easy, but at the end of the day it is the responsibility of the elected council, after full consideration of all the arguments for and against, to take what they think is the right decision in all the circumstances for the town and its residents.

George Derbyshire, former chairman of Watford Borough Council