A visitor to New York is likely to have heard about that city’s popular and unusual attraction, the High Line. This is a 1.45 mile long elevated inner city park which has been built on a disused stretch of the New York Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan. As a railroad, it served the meat packing quarter, but when trade moved out, the rail traffic ceased in 1980. But now this defunct and redundant ribbon of wasteland has been given new life as an urban greenway and trail. It is a hugely admired and much visited linear garden, a destination for tourists and an enhancement to the quality of life for New York.

And only last month it was announced that London’s own version of the High Line will open in July and will bring new life to disused former industrial land near the O2 Arena in Greenwich.

What’s this got to do with Watford? Well, Watford has its own stretch of unused and redundant railway stretching from near the High Street Station and running out westward to Two Bridges. Over many years Hertfordshire County Council and the Borough Council have poured vast sums into schemes to link it with the London Underground Metropolitan line, all with no result (but huge loss). At last reality has caught up with the dreamers, and with local government austerity biting ever harder, there is no future for this abandoned and decaying rail track. So why not give it new life as a community asset which can benefit all of us?

It would have everything in its favour: it runs past thickly populated estates (remember that Watford is the most densely populated District Council in the country): it links easily with the Town centre: at its western end it can merge with the rural pleasures of the Grand Union Canal and Cassiobury Park.

Of course, there will be a cost (there always is) but just think of the benefits which might flow from Watford’s take on the High Line. Every week seems to bring news of more major housing development in our town. Wouldn’t it be marvellous if we could balance this by creating a new and unique open space for all? And now might just be the right time for it: our Mayor has already shown he is giving priority to improving Watford’s parks and open spaces while the Green agenda is now receiving support from the Government – only a few days ago they launched the Urban Tree Challenge Fund with £10 million available for projects like this.

Would Watford have the courage and enterprise to grasp this wonderful opportunity?

Anthony Bramley-Harker

Hibbert Avenue, Watford