COUNCILLORS have pledged they will “listen” more to residents in the future following a public meeting where plans to build flats at a Borehamwood park were discussed.

The meeting was held after residents from all 42 houses in Grosvenor Road sent a petition to Hertsmere Borough Council against flats being built on Clarendon Park a fortnight ago.

Councillor Harvey Cohen (Conservative, Borehamwood Brookmeadow) organised the meeting last Thursday evening at the council’s Civic Offices, in Elstree Way, Borehamwood.

The petition asks the council to shelve the proposed property development as residents believe the proposal will permanently damage the cul-de-sac.

Around 25 residents were at the meeting along with Cllr Cohen, Councillor Darren Solomons (Conservative, Brookmeadow), the council’s finance and property portfolio holder, Councillor John Graham (Conservative, Aldenham East), Judith Sear, from the Borehamwood Four Parks Friends Association and members of the Grosvenor Road Neighbourhood Watch.

The plans include the demolition of a derelict former day centre and public toilets and the construction of 11 two-bedroom flats over two floors with 17 car parking spaces. The plans are part of an outline application proposed in 2007, which means as yet there are no developers available to take on the project.

Grosvenor Road resident and Neighbourhood Watch member, Andrew Godleman, said: “It is clear in the past the council has not taken the feelings of residents on board.

“One lady said at the meeting she felt the council was doing things behind our backs and there was a big round of applause for that comment. When I got in touch with the councillors by email in the past they have replied but then blanked me after that.”

Residents at the meeting were informed that the council failed to consult the Borehamwood Four Parks Association during the planning application process.

The association is a group of residents and park-users from the area who work with the council to promote the development of the four parks in the centre of Borehamwood, which as well as Clarendon Park include Aberford Park, Maxwell Park and Meadow Park.

Mrs Sear, from the association, said: “We should have been consulted on the original application. I was quite cross they hadn’t consulted us [in 2007]. Councillor Cohen acknowledged this at the meeting though.

“This is an outline application so at the moment there are no developers."

Cllr Cohen admitted the councillors needed to listen to residents more in the future and the parks association should have been consulted.

He said: “It was a very productive meeting and I made a few pledges at the meeting as councillor for the area.

"We will be listening more to residents on this. The Four Parks Association was not fully consulted as well as they should have been. There are now regular meetings between parks officers and members of the group.

“Clarendon Park is a beautiful park and there are some buildings there are an eyesore and something has to be done about them.”

Cllr Cohen said he also made a pledge that if an application was put forward by a developer he would organise another public meeting.

He added: “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.

"During the election campaign this issue was brought to my attention and about how people were so unhappy about the application.

"I made a pledge to Mr Godleman that I would hold a public meeting if elected and it was good to have the meeting now."

Mr Godleman added: “The mistake the council made about not consulting the Four Parks Association should be rectified now. They should have been asked.

“The positive aspect of this meeting was the councillors have now finally acknowledged the strength of feeling among people and we hope now after consideration they will drop the proposal.

“This meeting should be translated into action. We have invited the councillors to the next Neighbourhood Watch meeting in September but I will keep in touch with them to make sure they keep us up to date with any decisions made.”