Green light given to police station development

Bushey Police Station will be turned into three flats and a detached house after planning assent was given last week. Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee approved a planning application to convert the station site into three two bedroom flats and a separate detached three bedroom home at a meeting on November 14, after five of nine councillors agreed with the plan. The grade II listed station closed in 2011 and was purchased from Hertfordshire Constabulary by County Group Ltd for £440,000. Developers Squaredale (Monmouth) Ltd submitted the application for the site in August, one which Bushey North councillor Leslie Winters called a “great idea”. It will see demolition of an outbuilding, with the station due to undergo conversion and extension to include the flats. Concerns were raised over planned changes to Police Station Lane, which is often used by parents and children walking to Ashfield Junior School and Merry Hill Infant School. An Ashfield Primary School newsletter previously stated that “governors at both schools…have some concerns including the loss of pavement that runs alongside the old Police Station building.” This issue formed much of the discussion at the November 14 meeting, with Bushey resident Matthew Lobb speaking against the development. He said: “Some ten metres of footpath would be removed and levelled – children and parents would have to walk on the road. The fence and gate protecting pedestrians on the remaining stretch of Police Station Lane towards School Lane will also be removed. This is a major retrograde step. That is the only protection children currently have. It is ridiculous and dangerous.” Agent for applicants Squaredale (Monmouth) Ltd, Simon Patnick, told councillors that road safety had been addressed. He said: “One of the crucial elements of this development is the highways aspect and implications for people using Police Station Lane to get to School Lane. We now have a solution in place whereby the shared surface arrangement on Police Station Lane will afford a higher level of safety than what is currently is in place.” Cllr Ann Harrison added that the additional detached property constituted “overdevelopment” of the site, though the plan was agreed after a committee vote.