Proposals to regenerate Woodside Playing Fields in Watford

Proposals to regenerate Woodside Playing Fields in Watford has been welcomed by the mayor Peter Taylor who is excited about what the new state-of the-art facilities could bring to the town.

Within the new plans include a high ropes course, an outdoor activity centre, a trampoline centre, and an adventure golf course.

Watford Boxing Club and Watford Town Cricket Club are also pencilled to benefit from the scheme with new modern facilities such as a cricket pavilion and community space.

However, Mayor Taylor has confirmed that the current indoor bowls club is not part of the plans. The council has not renewed the lease on the bowls club but members are currently seeking a new lease from a court.

A cabinet report suggests that following a supply and demand analysis, the analysis showed a “good market potential for a range of alternative uses for the indoor bowls entre based on local demographics and supply of competing facilities”.

In simpler words, it is believed the indoor centre will be better used by more people for a different activity.

The Owls Bowls Club will remain.

Mayor Taylor said: “We are lucky in Watford to have so many first class leisure centres. One of my key manifesto commitments during the election campaign was to help bring a brand new family friendly facility to Woodside Playing Fields so I’m pleased that within the first month of my mayoralty we can get some progress on this.

“These plans are ambitious and will give Watford residents some really great state-of-the-art facilities. I can’t wait to see these improvements take shape.”

Also included in the regeneration plans is a new café and toilet facilities as well as an additional 242 parking spaces.

A consultation period involving people across Watford will now take place before it returns for cabinet approval in September.

The cabinet report and initial site plans (appendix 7) can be viewed here - (scroll to item 7)