A shopping street is set to finally be invested in after the council committed £400,000 worth of improvements.

The Lib Dems have announced that St Albans Road will be given a cash boost in an attempt to “significantly” improve the area and carry out “wholesale refreshment”.

Watford Borough Council has committed to the investment in its latest proposed budget.

St Albans Road from the junction of Balmoral Road down to The Range retail park will benefit from the windfall.

Callowland Lib Dem councillor Ian Stotesbury, who was elected last May, said: “One of the first things I did as our councillor is take the idea of renewing St Albans road. Working with my colleague, Cllr Laird and Watford Borough Council, we've come up with a real plan to propose for the road.

“Expanding parking, improving accessibility, tackling water pooling and significantly improving the appearance and green credentials of the road were things we've worked on. We'll be thinking ahead, using the scheme as an opportunity for wholesale refreshment of the footpaths and performing necessary works to see Christmas lights, improved pedestrian safety and loading/unloading addressed properly for businesses.

“We've got an idea for what to do, and now want to get feedback and direction from local residents and businesses.”

Labour Callowland councillor Sohail Bashir says the investment has been “a long time coming”.

He said: “Investment in St Albans Road has always appeared in alternative Labour budgets but the idea has always been dismissed. We’ve carried out consultations in the past to find out what residents and businesses want.

“It is great news this is finally being agreed because it has been needed a long time. We’ve been asking for £1m and I don’t think £400,000 is enough in my opinion but it is a start.”

The budget will be discussed at a Budget Council meeting held at the town hall in Watford on January 29.

Consultations in St Albans Road are expected to be carried out during early 2019.

The pledge for investment comes at a changing time for St Albans Road, especially near Watford Junction, where a raft of new homes are planned as part of the Watford Junction Masterplan.