The future of use of a country club site, a new Watford signing from Barcelona, the future of allotment land and a visit from stars of a soap were among the stories making our headlines five and ten years ago this week.
Five years ago
No guarantee country club site will not be used for housing
Houses could be built on the site of a country club after council officers were unable to dismiss the possibility of residential development.
At a standing only annual general meeting at Bushey Country Club last night (Tuesday) Hertsmere Borough Council officers could not confirm that housing was not an option.
However, council leader Cllr Morris Bright strongly reiterated that no decision has been made over the future of the site.
In December, the council announced that the country club will close on April 1 after a series of “unsustainable financial losses” which amounted to £685,000 last year.
Deulofeu loan move completed
Watford’s first signing of the transfer window has been confirmed with the arrival of Gerard Deulofeu on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
Parent club Barcelona revealed agreement had been reached for the 23-year-old to move to Vicarage Road until June 30 and that the Hornets will cover the player's salary and a potential add on of €1 million.
The move had been expected following Spanish media reports that a deal had been agreed earlier this afternoon, and the former Everton loanee is set to train with Javi Gracia and his new teammates at London Colney for the first time tomorrow.
The Hornets subsequently confirmed the move, stating it had been completed before today's midday deadline which means their newest acquistion is eligible to face Stoke City in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Skate park to ‘breathe new life’ into park
A new skate park and biking track will be installed in a town park, in a bid to encourage more activity among residents.
The site, which will be built in Oxhey Park, will also include a ‘community hub’ including a café, toilets and meeting space.
Watford Borough Council gave the project the green light after citing a number of its advantages and the overall enhancement it will provide to the area.
In the planning report, it was noted that it will result in an “ecological enhancement” as well as providing a form of flood defence. It was also supported by Sport England.
Ten years ago
Farm Terrace Allotment plans 'absolutely crucial' says MP
Watford MP Richard Harrington has thrown his weight behind plans to use historic allotment land as part of the Watford Health Campus project.
The Conservative said the Farm Terrace Allotments were "crucial" to the project, which promises a new hospital and 600 new homes in West Watford.
He also promised to push Government ministers for funds to redevelop Watford General Hospital like a "man possessed" once plans for the rebuild were in place.
The action group campaigning to save Farm Terrace said it was not surprised by the MP’s position and vowed to fight the threat to the land every step of the way.
EastEnders crew spotted in Watford
The cast and crew of EastEnders relocated from Walford to Watford this Friday afternoon.
Trailers full of film equipment were spotted at the playground of Cassiobury Park.
Crew in high-viz jackets set up tripods, lights and polyboards in preparation for filming in the evening and extras strolled around the playground rides.
More trailers for cast and catering were parked at Fullerians Rugby Club.
Anger as council refuses to give explanation for leisure centre debacle
Councillors have hit out at the secret terms of the settlement relating to the botched re-development of the William Penn Leisure Centre.
The work to improve swimming facilities in the Mill End centre began in early 2007 and was supposed to take less than a year and cost no more than £3 million to complete but a string of complications saw the budget rocket to more than £9 million while construction of the new facilities dragged on for more than three years.
Earlier this month a compensation package was agreed at a two-day behind-closed-doors mediation hearing between Three Rivers District Council, Gee Construction and project manager W S Atkins.
Sources say the council will receive roughly £700,000 in compensation from Atkins however officials this week refused a Freedom of Information request to disclose the settlement - citing a confidentiality agreement.
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