More objections lodged against plan to knock down Sun Clock Tower

There are now more than 200 official objections to a proposal to knock down the Sun Clock Tower in Ascot Road, with Watford Borough Council's conservation officer among the latest to share concerns.

In their consultee comments published on the council's planning portal, the urban design and conservation manager says the council’s emerging local plan "stresses the need to avoid causing harm to all heritage assets".

They add: "No information has been supplied covering the reasons why the building cannot be reused and no proposals put forward for a new building.

"There is no justification for the demolition of the heritage asset and the proposals would be against national and local policy and the emerging local plan referenced above.”

In conclusion, they said: “The proposed demolition cannot be supported as it is contrary to national and local policy.

"The building should reused and incorporated as a positive landmark feature into the wider redevelopment of this area."

Sun Clock Tower in Ascot Road. Credit: Lynda Bullock/Watford Observer Camera Club

The application was submitted by an individual called Paul Stacey in February and seeks the demolition of the clock tower, built in 1934, which residents have described as “iconic” and representative of Watford’s rich printing history.

An organisation, which strives to protect post-1914 British architecture and design, has also filed an objection.

The Twentieth Century Society write in their comments that the clock tower is "clearly of local significance", adding it is an example of a "striking and well-composed piece of Art-Deco architecture".

The society write in conclusion to their formal objection: "The society objects to the demolition of the Sun Clock Tower as a locally listed non-designated heritage, which makes a positive contribution to the local area.

"We urge the local authority to refuse the application and encourage the applicant to consider the possibility of retaining the building in any future proposals."

Despite the vast number of objections, there are around ten comments of support for the demolition that have been submitted on the planning portal.

The planning application can be found here.