Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor has already been in office for 50 days. In that time, he has met with 56 community groups, helped 260 residents with their problems and kickstarted several community initiatives. Here, he reflects on the last month, his visions for the town and what he hopes to achieve over the next four years.

Peter on… the Met Line Extension

Many were disappointed when Mayor of London Sadiq Khan pulled the plug on plans to create a link from Croxley to Watford Junction and onto Harrow & Wealdstone and Euston.

It’s been a long process, but Mayor Taylor met with representatives for Transport for London (TfL) to discuss the matter.

He will ensure the council gets the money it invested in the project back and look at alternatives transport measures.

“I’ve not got my heart set on lite rail, a tram, or anything in particular,” he said. “But we do need to look at the costs associated with different schemes and what transport is possible.

“TfL say they will work with Herts County Council as well as us to come up with feasibility studies to see what works. They’ve got expertise, they are happy to provide support.

“From the government’s perspective, they were disappointed that MLX won’t be happening so we need to use that to our advantage.”

Peter on…cycling

A Boris-bike style scheme could be coming to Watford as early as next summer.

Working with Hertfordshire County Council, Mayor Taylor hopes to create a flexible system which anyone in the area can use.

He said: “We want something that will be fairly flexible. Watford is a good place to have a bike hire scheme.”

He is also keen to improve the cycle infrastructure in the town, but says he won’t go as far as creating a Mini-Holland, which caused controversy in neighbouring boroughs like Enfield.

Instead, he has vowed to improve cycle infrastructure and set up a forum to bring people together.

“It’s no good just having extra bikes, we need better facilities too,” he said.

He has met with Watford Velo Saport who told him what they want to see in the area.

Mayor Taylor added: “They say pedestrians should always have precedent when it comes to cyclists, and that training needs to be done to improve the way cyclists behave.”

He also plans to expand the Cycle Hub in West Watford by giving it more funding, so it can train more cyclists.

Peter on…making Watford a more dementia friendly town

There are currently 1,000 people living with the condition, which mainly affects elderly people and causes memory loss, in Watford.

But Mayor Taylor’s vision is to create an environment where everyone understands the condition, what it entails, and how they can help.

He will run free training sessions for shops, who will then be given a sticker proclaiming them as ‘dementia friendly.’

He said: “This is a practical thing we can do. It’s for people and their carers. Dementia can be quite isolating so we want them to know that if they are lost, they can be supported.

“It’s also about making people aware of how and where they can get support.”

Peter on…the improvements at Woodside and the closure of the bowls club

The closure of Woodside Bowling Club sparked a lot of anger earlier this year. Members were locked in a dispute with Watford Borough Council over how much rent they should pay.

The upshot of that is the bowls club will close it has been suggested they could merge with the one in Cassiobury Park.

But Mayor Taylor insists it will be beneficial in the long run as Woodside Leisure Centre is being transformed.

He has approved draft plans for a multi-million-pound investment into the playing fields to go to consultation.

“At the moment you go in and it feels like there’s many different things going on,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like a coherent entity but that’s what we want to create.

“This project will bring that all together so you feel more like you’re entering a leisure area or a complex with some coherence to it.”

The Central Leisure Centre will also offer free swimming on Sundays.

He is also looking into creating a Go-Ape style park with high-wires, but the idea is still in its infancy.

Peter on…our parks

One of his main goals is to get 16 of the borough’s parks Green Flag status. So far, 11 carry the title, awarded to some of the best green spaces in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Oxhey Park North could see a skate park, a bike hub, a café and a play park built there by 2019.

Peter on…community groups

Asked what the biggest challenges the community faces today, he explained how community groups are crying out for more space.

But he says Chamber of Commerce Chris Luff wants to create a ‘chamber of conscience’, allowing businesses to give back to the community by volunteering.

He added: “It’s been a really busy 50 days but I’m pleased to have got my teeth stuck into the role. I’ve met a lot of our wonderful community groups, helped residents and cut a few ribbons too.’

“However, being Elected Mayor is not all about cutting ribbons, and it’s great that we’ve started to deliver some of my key manifesto commitments for the town, including a new cycle hire scheme for Watford to be delivered next year’.

“Over the summer I’ll be out meeting residents - hearing what they think should happen to make Watford an even better place to live.”