The process to remove a set of “outrageous” chicanes on a busy Watford road has begun.

Persistence from councillors paid off with Hertfordshire County Council agreeing to remove the unpopular chicanes on Nascot Wood Road.

Nascot Park county councillor Mark Watkin, who has fought a long battle to get the chicanes taken out, said: “It’s good riddance as far as I’m concerned and most local residents will agree.

“It is just a pity that the county council has been so stubborn in taking so long to accept that these outrageous chicanes cause more problems than they solve.”

Highway officers have assured councillors that the chicanes will be gone by the end of 2017.

They will be replaced by raised tables, the locations of which are yet to be finalised.

Councillor Mark Hofman added: “Anyone who has had the misfortune of trying to navigate these shocking chicanes will have witnessed vehicles swerving dangerously to avoid oncoming cars racing through without priority, long delays sometimes stretching for miles, and accidents caused by the obstacles being placed on near blind bends.

“It’s time they were gone, they’re a blight on the landscape and I’m sure we’d all be better off without them” he added.

Removal of the chicanes will be part of a wider proposed 20mph scheme that Mark Watkin has tabled for Nascot Wood Road and the roads and closes that lead off it.

Cllr Watkin added: “It is only with the acceptability of 20mph schemes that we had a cost justified reason for their removal. I hope that we will now get a win–win out of this.”

Residents in Nascot Wood Road, Tunnel Wood Road, Tunnel Wood Close, Birch Tree Walk, Lingfield Way, Armand Close, Mandeville Close, Hawthorn Close, Birchmead, Bay Tree Walk, Juniper Grove and Broom Grove are currently being consulted.