Ever get the feeling of déjà vu?

Sometimes in the news room, where certain stories update over days, weeks, months or even years, it is quite commonplace to have this sense running around your head.

It is, obviously, a good thing for us in the industry as it helps provide us with good stories to relay back to you, the readers.

One such story which is causing a sense of déjà vu is the battle of the Farm Terrace Allotments, which features on page 7 of this week’s paper. It sounds a bit like a battle which would appear in a Roald Dahl book, but it is actually all about the Health Campus scheme looking to redevelop the allotments situated just behind Watford General Hospital and Vicarage Lane.

READ MORE: Campaigners in limbo following High Court hearing

The plans, which were originally drawn up in 2007, are looking to transform the allotments into housing alongside a new hospital and leisure facility, things which many people, including those at Watford Borough Council and the hospital, feels is much needed for the area.

However, the proposals have sparked much fury among those who grow fruit and veg in the mounds of soil which currently occupy the site and others who simply disagree that the facilities mentioned above are not worth the hassle.

Such is the strength of feeling among the campaigners, they have taken their fight to the Royal Courts of Justice twice in recent years – and on both occasions have won with judges quashing the green-lighted planning applications.

As you read this article, or perhaps even before you read this article, the campaigners are once again taking their case to the same court as they bid to bulldoze the plans looking to bulldoze their beloved allotments.

The question I would ask is how much longer can this go on for?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe in – as the protesters are. And in the same way, it is fine for the council and hospital bosses to look at redeveloping the town and keep pressing with these plans.

However, there must come a point where one side or the other has to accept the result which is dealt to them.

Battles are passionate, but eventually someone must realise the fight is lost and move on from this situation. Otherwise we will keep finding ourselves heading back to the courts, which will delay everything.

Either the protesters must accept that their pleas to “Give peas a chance” are doomed or the council must realise the strength of feeling is such towards the allotments that they will have to listen to their constituents and reconsider the plans.

Who does surrender in the end will probably be the most interesting story of this whole saga and we will be here to let you know how the dust settles when it finally does.