Consultation responses for a new passenger transport network that would link Watford to St Albans and then Essex have shown "overwhelming support".

Hertfordshire County Council has announced that 75 per cent of respondents said they support or strongly support the Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT) project, prompting the council to confirm it will take the views forward.

The scheme aims to reduce congestion and primarily create a better east to west transport corridor in Hertfordshire, and also includes a stretch from Watford to St Albans.

Views from the 10-week engagement, which the council said received nearly two thousand responses, will now be used to further develop the long-term plan and for funding proposals.

Councillor Phil Bibby, who is responsible for transport in the county, said: “After extensive engagement with the public the appetite for improved west to east public transport links could not be clearer.

“We will now take these views forward as we seek to engage with funding partners, including the Department for Transport.Watford Observer: A study to determine whether self driving transport could be used between Watford and St Albans received funding last month, as part of HERT.A study to determine whether self driving transport could be used between Watford and St Albans received funding last month, as part of HERT. (Image: Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles/Google Street View)

“We are committed to the HERT’s ambitious vision to deliver a step-change in the passenger transport network across the whole of Hertfordshire, West Essex, and beyond.”

Young people (18 to 24) were most strongly supportive of the scheme. Responses indicated that residents are most interested in frequent and reliable service times and feel current services are too infrequent, unreliable, and slow.

The council began work on a detailed proposal in October 2019 but, from the outset, it was clear the project would take years to develop.

HERT progress remains in the early stages of developing proposals. The exact route and even the type of vehicle to be used is still not decided, with further technical studies and public engagement due.

Watford Observer: The HERT is a proposed new sustainable transport system for Hertfordshire. Credit: Hertfordshire County Council

Currently, a prospectus is being produced which would be used to secure funding. There are apparently a number of steps still to go through before the scheme can be built.

The plan is split into three routes, Watford to St Albans (with the potential for onward connections to west Watford), Hemel Hempstead to Gilston (between Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford), and Gilston to Harlow.