A county councillor has welcomed the reopening of a 'vital' road in time for the NATO event next week.

Cllr Mark Watkin says the closure of Nascot Wood Road in Watford has caused long delays for motorists travelling in the area.

He says he has spent the last couple of weeks pressing Hertfordshire County Council and Affinity Water to reopen the street.

Affinity Water had a permit to carry out a repair and replacement of water mains in the road which required a month-long full closure until December 11.

But the council has revoked the permit after an officer visited the site and decided a full road closure was not necessary.

Watford Observer:

Cllr Watkin could not understand why the whole road had to be shut

Cllr Watkin said: "Nascot Wood Road is a vital route in our local network. This closure has caused long delays and was totally unnecessary.

"The recent work carried out in Ridge Lane and Courtlands Drive was achieved using traffic light control, why can’t they take the same approach in Nascot Wood Road which is actually a wider road than the other two?

"There would have been utter chaos had these works not been cleared in time for the NATO conference on 4th December. No one doubts the need for the work, the critical question is why the road cannot be controlled by traffic lights."

The county council says an agreement was already in place with Affinity Water for the work in Nascot Wood Road to be suspended on December 4 to help minimise the disruption.

An Affinity Water spokesperson said: “We are carrying out essential works in Watford to ensure we maintain a high quality and reliable supply of water for the local community, for many years to come.

“Nascott Wood Road is a part of this programme and the work was planned under a full road closure for the safety of commuters and to allow our engineers to work safely around other assets underneath the road.

“These works have now been postponed and we are working closely with Hertfordshire County Council to re-plan the works to try and minimise the disruption they may cause as much as possible, whilst ensuring the safety of our teams and commuters.”

With world leaders coming to The Grove hotel near Chandler's Cross on December 4, including US president Donald Trump and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a major security operation is in place.

Road closures will be in place and canal paths will also be shut off.

Concrete blocks and steel fencing have been erected along Langleybury Lane.

Langleybury Lane, Old House Road, Grove Mill Lane, and Fir Tree Hill will all be closed from 6pm tonight until 6am. (Friday November 29)

Next week, the following road closures will be in place:

  • Grove Mill Lane, Monday December 2 6am to December 4 8pm
  • Fir Tree Hill and Langleybury Lane, December 3 6am to December 4 8pm
  • Hempstead Road between Hunton Bridge roundabout and Courtlands Drive, December 3 11pm to December 4 11.59pm.

Diversion are via A41 to The Dome roundabout, A412 St Albans Road to Town Hall roundabout and A411 Hempstead Road.

All rights of way across the hotel will be closed from 4pm on December 3 to 8pm on December 4.

The Grand Union and canal path will be closed to boats and pedestrians from Lock 74 to 76 from 2pm on December 2 to 9am on December 5.

Police are warning of significant disruption. Electronic signs and road signs are up all over Watford warning drivers of the upcoming NATO summit.

If you need access inside the road closures on December 4 due to a personal emergency, there will be an officer stationed at Hollytree House, Gammons Lane, and Abbots Langley police station between 8am and 8pm. Or call 101.

For the latest, visit https://www.herts.police.uk/Information-and-services/Advice/NATO/NATO