As I write this I think of the 24-storey tower rising up in Ascot Road that I was pictured at the other week.

I thought of this as I read last week’s letter from Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Watkin, who represents the leafy and very comfortable areas of Park and Nascot, as he bemoaned the Government’s housing figures for Watford and had the nerve to talk of having to “either cover the borough with multiple 6 or 7 storey apartment blocks in residential areas such as Nascot and Park, or concentrate the development in brownfield sites where they can be properly accommodated so protecting the wider residential areas,albeit having to go higher to do so…..”

Ah, the self justification of a Liberal Democrat who has sat on the development control committee for many years and passed application after application for very high towers in our town, crying “not me Guv!”

The same ironic smile I had when reading the Baroness Thornhill’s article two months ago criticising the Conservative Government’s housing figures and her husband, retiring Cllr Iain Sharpe, also attacking the Tory Government’s housing figures.

I and many residents of our town not just here across West Watford will wonder I am sure if these prominent Liberal Democrats have had a memory lapse about the coalition years of 2010 to 2015?

All the planning figures and bills passed by that coalition Conservative Lib Dem Government were enabled by the party fully supported by Baroness Thornhill, our former Mayor, her husband, Cllr Sharpe and Cllr Watkin.

So Watford residents of whatever political colour don’t need crocodile tears from them now on Conservative Government edicts on housing figures.

Nigel Bell

Leader of Watford Council opposition Labour Group