After years of repeated assertions that Watford’s police station will definitely stay open, we learned this week that developers have sounded out the possibility of transforming it into flats.

A yet-to-be-submitted planning application seen by the Watford Observer reveals plans to demolish the appropriately located Shady Lane building and nearby magistrates court, and build 55 flats in their stead.

READ MORE: Police station could close to make way for flats

We only discovered this development through a tip-off, with the police, perhaps tactfully, choosing to keep plans at this early stage under wraps.

New homes are sorely needed, not just in Watford but across the whole country. However you would be hard pushed to find someone who thinks getting rid of the town’s police station is a good idea.

Stations in St Albans, Hertsmere and Three Rivers have already closed as part of a nationwide fat-trimming exercise.

While this may have saved money, I would what effect it has had on crime rates.

Mayor Dorothy Thornhill tweeted on Thursday afternoon that plans to relocate Watford’s coppers in the town hall were already “in the pipeline”.

We very much hope this is the case as we can ill afford to sacrifice our town centre bobby base.  

Recently we have reported on high-profile assaults and even the death of a young man who was attacked after a night out in the town centre.

Should we lose our police station for good, it’s possible that occurrences such as these could become more commonplace.