As you probably know the final stage has now been reached in the Radlett Fire Station saga.
After six years since it was closed the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol has now overturned Hertsmere’s rejection of the planning application by Hertfordshire CC and Beechwood Homes so the buildings will be demolished and replaced by a block of 18 flats.
The original Fire Station site was donated in 1906 by a local businessman Charles Part to be used “for the benefit of the local community”. The Radlett Fire Brigade was a volunteer run organisation until after World War 2 when it was nationalised and handed to Herts CC without compensation. Arguably they continued to provide a service of benefit to the local community while running the Fire & Rescue Service until they closed it in October 2006. In recognition of Charles Part’s original aims of benefitting the local community Hertsmere put conditions on any future redevelopment of the site by saying it should provide a proportion of “community use”.
The developers included a small space for such “community use” but it was deemed inadequate by Hertsmere – supported by the Parish Council, Radlett Society and others – so rejected the planning application. Unfortunately, the Planning Inspectorate did not agree. I feel that there is a strong case for any proceeds of the sale of the site to Beechwood Homes to be returned to our local community.
I have therefore set up a petition to Hertfordshire County Council demanding they do exactly that! I should be grateful for your support please The petition is at https://consult.hertsdirect.org/petitions/petition?petition_id=114914
Thank you, Clive Glover