Woodmere Avenue: Changes set to be made at width restriction

The videos showing private cars, trade vehicles and even a police van crashing into the bollards are, indeed, shocking.

The restriction in Woodmere Avenue at the junction with the A41 has been an issue for many years and, as highlighted in the Watford Observer and national media alike, it is not fit for purpose and many drivers opt to use the bus lane. For too long, the width restriction has been a threat to all passing through.

I sincerely hope this is the year that we can finally get rid of this hazardous ticking time-bomb. Local residents have rightly been calling for something to be done.

Instead of finding a workable solution, there has been a decade of blaming others with no progress towards putting resident safety first. I note your recent editorial calling on an urgent redesign before somebody is hurt, with which I wholeheartedly agree.

Because of the failure of local Lib Dem councillors to sort this out, our hardworking MP Dean Russell and local activists have had to step in. Dean has consistently raised local residents’ concerns, including bringing a government minister to the site, as well as the leader of Hertfordshire County Council together with the county councillors responsible for highways. Dean also raised the issue in Parliament, holding a debate to raise concerns with the Department for Transport.

I agree with Dean’s comments in the House of Commons, that it is not right that somebody trying to drive to work, pick up their kids from school or just go to the shops, should be worried about damaging their car because of this badly designed restriction.

I am pleased that Dean, very closely with myself, has been able to engage positively with Hertfordshire County Council to find a way forward to fix this long-standing issue. With the support of local residents and activists, Dean has lobbied for a change to highways policy which means the county council is now able to consider the installation of enforcement cameras. This will mean that safety will be maintained around Woodmere Avenue whilst removing the poorly designed bollards. Finally, there is an end in sight for real change.

Whatever your political leanings, checks and balances are a fundamental principle of our democracy, to hold our elected officials accountable and generally drive good local government. The Liberal Democrats’ dominance across Watford is not liberal, and is scarcely democratic.

I care passionately for our town and want to assure all your readers that I will stand up for them and ensure that, as elected Mayor of Watford, I would focus on delivery and not on political point-scoring. You deserve better from your local councillors and elected Mayor, and our town does too.

The only way to keep our democracy strong is for Watford residents to vote Conservative and prevent a Liberal Democrat being a rubber stamp as their next Mayor and councillor.

Binita Mehta-Parmar

Conservative candidate for Watford Mayor