'The Only Way is Up - is this the motto for modern Watford?'

It represents part of the heritage of Watford and it is telling that when it was built in the 1930s, that is what was passed as a tower in the town.

Read more: Application to demolish historic clock tower refused

After 20 years of the Liberal Democrat rule at the Town Hall, another fine piece of 1930s architecture, that too is overshadowed by the developments that are approved these days from within it.

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

They expect people to be grateful if any tower approved in Watford by the Liberal Democrat-dominated committee is less than 25-storeys high.

The Liberal Democrats are quick to blame the Conservative government’s housing targets, but it is they and not the Tories who are approving these Taylor’s Towers that are springing up.

At the Range site in St Albans Road, the Liberal Democrats waved through a colossal development. A 28-storey tower will be built alongside 11 others of various sizes, with a low number of affordable homes, and they are on track to approve an even bigger development at Watford Junction.

Birds eye CGI of the approved 1,214 homes scheme in St Albans Road, which includes a 28-storey tower. Credit: Berkeley Homes

Other councils have done far better at managing development and high rises, but for Watford, the sky is the limit apparently and what was a market town (they’ve even ruined that) will become just a soulless metropolis.

The Only Way Is Up was the title of a 1980s pop classic, but it also appears to be the modern-day motto of those who have spent too long in charge of our town.

Now there are signs of cracks appearing with three councillors leaving the Liberal Democrats in a fortnight. The foundations are weakening.

• Asif Khan is a Labour county councillor for North Watford and borough councillor for Leggatts