Chorleywood House Estate “preferred” site for new play area

Chorleywood House Estate has been named as the preferred location for a play area in the village. The Play Area Advisory Group’s (PAAG) report recommended Chorleywood House Estate as the first choice site, with a site near Shepherds Bridge on Chorleywood Common as the second best option. Despite the recommendations, no final decision has been made and the saga looks set rumble on. Friends of Chorleywood Common (FOCC) committee member, Nicola Varnals, said: “FOCC are very pleased that the Chorleywood House Estate has been chosen as the preferred location. “Chorleywood House Estate offers best location in terms of vehicular access, level/safe pedestrian access, visibility and safety of children. “Worryingly, the common site has still not been entirely discounted. “However, the committee’s decision process ignored the environmental and legal protection given to the common which is designed to prevent damage to any common site – to discount that would simply delay delivery of the playground even more, and also cost the parish a great deal in legal costs. “The fact that a Rickmansworth Road pedestrian crossing is being provided enhances the Chorleywood House Estate location even more. “Hence, we continue to support the Chorleywood House Estate site and sincerely hope the parish council, district council and county council will finally resolve matters to deliver same so that mothers wishing to have a safe playground may enjoy same and those that wish to protect a unique ecological landscape may also enjoy same, and the Chorleywood community may once again unify in harmony. “The view of the majority of members of FOCC is that the common is not a suitable site for a formal play area. FOCC Committee deplores the collection of often ill-informed feedback from residents, and believes that Chorleywood Parish Council , and then Three Rivers District Council, should accept and implement the PAAG recommendation to put the play area on Chorleywood House Estate.”