It’s a tragedy that the scourge of knife crime has arrived in Watford to threaten and damage young lives. When Watford Borough Council sacked its Play Workers and demolished Harebreaks and Harwoods Adventure Playgrounds they denied the support and advice for young people at a crucial impressionable age, add to that the loss and lack of Hertfordshire County Council youth clubs and the threat to Signpost the youth counselling service, we are building trouble for the future.

In addition, the loss of small independent workplaces by the huge redevelopments turning Watford into a London borough, will cause a lack of diverse employment and training opportunities leading to financial exclusion and resentment for Watford’s young people.

This does not have to be inevitable, investing in young people’s social and mental wellbeing from an early age by Watford and Hertfordshire councils, and funding Signpost counselling service correctly will make things better for all of us.

Steve Harvey

Beechwood Rise, Watford