Development is a key issue if we are to judge from the letters pages and column inches of our trusty Watford Observer, both in print and online! Certainly from my time as Mayor I would agree.
As I sign off my last column for the Watford Observer, I want to share with you the one thing that keeps me awake at night.
This will be one of my last columns as the Elected Mayor of Watford. Having done the job for 16 years, I know there will be those who will cheer; you can’t do this job without upsetting some groups of people. I hope many more will look back on my tenure and feel that, together, we have made Watford an even better place to live.
I still haven’t recovered from the slap in the face from The Mayor of London’s decision to cancel the Metropolitan Line Extension after leading us to believe that finally if we bridged the funding gap of £73 million work could commence.
If anyone has been following the news recently, they will have seen more and more articles about the growing housing crisis in the UK. Housing is becoming less and less affordable, and too many people are either stuck in temporary accommodation or stuck in private rented accommodation that is keeping many young people off the property ladder.
As we go into 2018, I’m looking forward to what will be a year of change and progress for Watford. As you go round our town, it’s impossible not to see the growth happening all around you. This includes the extension of the intu centre, which should be completed later this year and will bring jobs to the town. Starting this year as well is the Wellstones development, which make our High Street more pedestrian friendly and will help change the look and feel of the town centre.
With a snap election on the way, you’ll be hearing plenty about big national and international issues.
March is here, which (hopefully!) means the cold weather is behind us and the evenings will be getting lighter – it’s the perfect time of year to get outdoors.
On Tuesday, Watford Borough Council passed its budget for the next financial year.
