Resident tells council to restart consultation for flats in Clarendon Park

Andrew Godleman has called on Hertsmere Borough Council to rip up its own plans for a derelict building in Clarendon Park, Borehamwood, and start again.

In February, the council's planning committee gave the green light for 15 flats in the park, despite 37 objections and a long and controversial planning history.

Read more about the approved scheme here

And Mr Godleman, who has formally submitted a complaint against the decision, told senior councillors on the Executive committee just how unhappy he was.

"Are we living in heartless Hertsmere where even as residents are isolated, the council will push ahead with overdevelopment, destroying urban green space against resident objections?" he asked in the virtual meeting, on behalf of Grosvenor Road Neighbourhood Watch and Save Clarendon Park Campaign.

This building, a former day care centre and toilet block, will be demolished

It was back in 2008 when residents started to protest against council plans for the park.

Eleven flats were given outline planning permission but two years later, a petition was presented to the council calling for the scheme to be shelved.

The petition led to a public meeting being held at the council's offices attended by more than 25 people.

Councillor Harvey Cohen, who is now in charge of planning in the council, admitted in the meeting that "councillors needed to listen to residents more".

In a statement to the Times after the meeting in July 2010, Cllr Cohen said: "We will actually have another meeting way before a planning committee meeting if another application is put forward.

"I want to carry on listening to residents."

In March 2011, campaigners applauded the Executive committee when members decided to defer the decision to sell the land proposed for redevelopment.

Council leader Morris Bright said at the time, the decision should be deferred until a "consensus could be reached on the future of the land".

But it appears that was the last campaigners heard from the council - Mr Godleman, who lives in Grosvenor Road, said in the virtual meeting that the urgency showed by the council in 2011 translated into "six years of doing nothing".

Then in 2017, Mr Godleman says the council "out of nowhere" submitted a new proposal for Clarendon Park - this time for 15 flats. The plans would later be resubmitted in 2019.

The refurbished part of Clarendon Park, pictured, will not be lost

Locals opposed the proposals again, with Mr Godleman claiming in his presentation that Councillor John Graham asked campaigners what they would do with the park.

But Mr Godleman, who says he does not oppose some kind of redevelopment of the derelict building, says resident feedback was "ignored" by the council. He said "no meaningful discussions" had taken place between residents and the council.

Mr Godleman said in the meeting: "Then suddenly Councillor Graham presented a printout of (our) suggestions – provided as a courtesy - at a management meeting (in September 2019), discussing the proposals under any other business.

"This wasn’t a formal Executive meeting. No minutes were taken, No members of the public were allowed in the room. No declaration of interest was given.

"Despite this Councillor Graham wrote to residents a few days later saying 'the Executive carefully considered the proposals at its meeting last week along with the comments from officers'.

"He said residents’ proposals were rejected."

Mr Godleman continued: "The failure to engage with planning issues plus the unusual and legally suspect management committee, give a strong appearance of pre-determination."

This will be built over. Locals were concerned about loss of green space and accessibility to the site, as well increased traffic in Grosvenor Road which is a cul-de-sac

In a plea to the Executive committee, Mr Godleman said: "Are we living in heartless Hertsmere where even as residents isolated, the council will push ahead with overdevelopment, destroying urban green space against resident objections?

"Or are we living in hopeful Hertsmere where the council will engage with its community? Show that the council can do the right thing and the thing the executive agreed to in 2011.

"Back then you agreed to initiate genuine discussions with residents so withdraw the application. Please, behave honourably and restart the consultation for the good of the people of Borehamwood."

Once the presentation was over, Cllr Morris Bright said it would be sent to officers to consider and report back to the next relevant meeting.

A council spokesperson said: "Our proposal for 15 two-bedroom flats at Grosvenor Road, Borehamwood, was submitted last year.

"It was dealt with fairly and transparently, as we do with all planning applications, through our planning process, which involved a three-week public consultation.

"Since then, Mr Godleman has presented a petition to the Executive calling for the planning committee’s decision to approve the application to be overturned and the scheme to be withdrawn.

"In accordance with our procedure, he gave a five minute virtual presentation at last month’s Executive meeting, regarding his concerns. A response to his presentation is being prepared and will be discussed at the next May Executive meeting."