Dacorum Borough Council hits back at 'bizarre' park and ride rumours

Rumours about the location of a potential new park and ride site have swirled after Watford Borough Council said that it would likely be based outside the borough
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Dacorum Borough Council has hit back at “bizarre” claims that a park and ride for Watford could be built in Kings Langley.

Rumours about the location of a potential new park and ride site have swirled after Watford Borough Council said that it would likely be based outside the borough.

Three Rivers councillor Sara Bedford (Liberal Democrats, Abbots Langley and Bedmond) said that the district had not been consulted in a Facebook post earlier this month, leading to speculation that Dacorum would be the likely destination.

Dacorum Borough Council hits back at 'bizarre' park and ride rumoursDacorum Borough Council hits back at 'bizarre' park and ride rumours
Dacorum Borough Council hits back at 'bizarre' park and ride rumours

However, the portfolio holder for transport in Dacorum had firm words for those suggesting green belt land near to Junction 20 of the M25: “It’s just not happening.”

Watford Borough Council are currently consulting on their transport strategy between 2021 and 2041, which said the council “will investigate two locations with potential for park and ride services”.

The strategy includes a number of proposals, and all will still need to be deemed feasible and agreed upon before being greenlit.

Speaking at a meeting of the council on Wednesday September 15, portfolio holder for Planning and Infrastructure Councillor Alan Anderson (Conservative, Kings Langley) said that Dacorum had not had negotiations with Watford in connection to the scheme.

He told councillors: “I didn’t want to bring this issue up, but I fear I have to, to prevent it being hijacked by people whose business it isn’t.

“There was some controversy last week concerning Watford’s transport plan. Watford Borough Council is consulting on a transport plan that includes, in the appendix, 10 to 12 schemes varying in reality from those that are quite likely to those that could almost be called kite-flying.

“Contrary to some bizarre claims made on Facebook, Dacorum did not negotiate to get a park and ride scheme on the Dacorum Kings Langley side of junction 20 of the M25.

“We’ve never sought that, we’ve never tried to get it, and claims to the contrary are bizarre.”

He criticised councillors for stoking the speculation, and made it clear that the site was unsuitable for such a scheme.

Cllr Anderson said: “Our officers have communicated with Watford officers about the transport plan and we will be passing comment on it before the consultation period ends.

“We certainly do not support the idea of trying to put a park and ride on a high value piece of green belt, coalescent with a site with an ancient monument in it. It’s just not happening.”