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Please have your say at watfordheritage.commonplace.isand share with anyone you think might be interested!

The proposed actions include ideas such as:

Improved access to information – including topics such Article 4 Directions, the planning process and decision making, how to contact council on planning-related conservation matters, how fees are set, pre-application and how the enforcement process works.

Providing planning guidance - including topics such as what may and may not need planning permission, household maintenance, energy efficiency and renewable energy installations such as solar panels and EV charging points.

General enhancements to these areas - to identify suitable sites within conservation areas for the planting of new street trees and review how we manage the public spaces in conservation areas to ensure an appropriate and consistent approach.

Area specific enhancements – such as enhancing the heritage assets and monuments within St Mary's Churchyard, reducing traffic speeds and improving the canal bridge on Grove Mill Lane, supporting the restoration of Little Cassiobury, ensuring the Victoria Passage boundary wall is maintained properly and working with Hertfordshire County Council on “no wait” markings around the green at Watford Heath.

Following the informal engagement last year, where residents and key groups were asked to share their views and ideas, a draft action plan has now been created for the town’s Conservation Areas for people to comment on at watfordheritage.commonplace.isuntil 17 March. The proposed actions include ideas such as:

Improved access to information – including topics such Article 4 Directions, the planning process and decision making, how to contact council on planning-related conservation matters, how fees are set, pre-application and how the enforcement process works.

Providing planning guidance - including topics such as what may and may not need planning permission, household maintenance, energy efficiency and renewable energy installations such as solar panels and EV charging points.

General enhancements to these areas - to identify suitable sites within conservation areas for the planting of new street trees and review how we manage the public spaces in conservation areas to ensure an appropriate and consistent approach.

Area specific enhancements – such as enhancing the heritage assets and monuments within St Mary's Churchyard, reducing traffic speeds and improving the canal bridge on Grove Mill Lane, supporting the restoration of Little Cassiobury, ensuring the Victoria Passage boundary wall is maintained properly and working with Hertfordshire County Council on “no wait” markings around the green at Watford Heath.

Please let us know your thoughts and pass onto anyone who may be interested!

Following the informal engagement last year, where residents and key groups were asked to share their views and ideas, a draft action plan has now been created for the town’s Conservation Areas for people to comment on at watfordheritage.commonplace.isuntil 17 March. Residents can also attending meetings at various venues across Watford, by booking at watford-conservation-areas.eventbrite.co.uk. This includes:

Drop-in sessions regarding Conservation Areas Management Plan overall - Chamber Hub (15-17 Queen's Road) at 5pm on Tuesday 28 February.

Estcourt, St Mary's and High Street/King Street conservation areas - Chamber Hub (15-17 Queen's Road) at 7pm on Tuesday 28 February.

Oxhey and Watford Heath conservation areas - Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church (77 Chalk Hill) at 7pm on Monday 6 March.

The Square conservation area - Cornerstone Church (119a Vicarage Road) at 7pm on Wednesday 8 March.

Proposed actions include ideas such as:

Improved access to information – including topics such Article 4 Directions, the planning process and decision making, how to contact council on planning-related conservation matters, how fees are set, pre-application and how the enforcement process works.

Providing planning guidance - including topics such as what may and may not need planning permission, household maintenance, energy efficiency and renewable energy installations such as solar panels and EV charging points.

General enhancements to these areas - to identify suitable sites within conservation areas for the planting of new street trees and review how we manage the public spaces in conservation areas to ensure an appropriate and consistent approach.

Area specific enhancements – such as enhancing the heritage assets and monuments within St Mary's Churchyard, reducing traffic speeds and improving the canal bridge on Grove Mill Lane, supporting the restoration of Little Cassiobury, ensuring the Victoria Passage boundary wall is maintained properly and working with Hertfordshire County Council on “no wait” markings around the green at Watford Heath.

Watford Borough Council is again asking for feedback from residents on the town’s Conservation Areas, with responses now wanted on a draft action plan that will help ensure the unique special interest of these areas continues to be protected.

Conservation areas exist to protect the historic and architectural character of places and they are subject to extra planning controls to ensure this. There are around 10,000 conservation areas in England, with 10 of them within the Borough. The areas include: Civic Core, Estcourt, Grove Mill Lane, High Street and King Street, Macdonell Gardens, Nascot, Oxhey, St Mary's, The Square and Watford Heath.

Following the informal engagement last year, where residents and key groups were asked to share their views and ideas, a draft action plan has now been created for the town’s Conservation Areas for people to comment on at watfordheritage.commonplace.isfrom 2 February to 17 March. The proposed actions include ideas such as:

• Improved access to information – including topics such Article 4 Directions, the planning process and decision making, how to contact council on planning-related conservation matters, how fees are set, pre-application and how the enforcement process works.

• Providing planning guidance - including topics such as what may and may not need planning permission, household maintenance, energy efficiency and renewable energy installations such as solar panels and EV charging points.

• General enhancements to these areas - to identify suitable sites within conservation areas for the planting of new street trees and review how we manage the public spaces in conservation areas to ensure an appropriate and consistent approach.

• Area specific enhancements – such as enhancing the heritage assets and monuments within St Mary's Churchyard, reducing traffic speeds and improving the canal bridge on Grove Mill Lane, supporting the restoration of Little Cassiobury, ensuring the Victoria Passage boundary wall is maintained properly and working with Hertfordshire County Council on “no wait” markings around the green at Watford Heath.

Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Conservation areas are not just a physical space, they are a reflection of our community's values and history. It's crucial that we involve local residents in decision-making and give them a say in how these precious places are safeguarded.

“We must conserve and enhance the heritage of the town. Upon adoption, the council will deliver the Action Plan so that places of special architectural or historic interest are protected for future generations.”

Residents can also attending meetings at various venues across Watford, by booking at watford-conservation-areas.eventbrite.co.uk.This includes:

• Civic Core and Nascot conservation areas - Annex (to the rear of the Town Hall and Colosseum, on Peace Prospect) at 7pm on Tuesday 21 February.

• Grove Mill Lane and MacDonnell Gardens conservation areas - Cheslyn House (Nascot Wood Road) at 7pm on Thursday 23 February.

• Drop-in sessions regarding Conservation Areas Management Plan overall - Chamber Hub (15-17 Queen's Road) at 5pm on Tuesday 28 February.

• Estcourt, St Mary's and High Street/King Street conservation areas - Chamber Hub (15-17 Queen's Road) at 7pm on Tuesday 28 February.

• Oxhey and Watford Heath conservation areas - Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church (77 Chalk Hill) at 7pm on Monday 6 March.

• The Square conservation area - Cornerstone Church (119a Vicarage Road) at 7pm on Wednesday 8 March.

This is the last week to have your say on Watford’s Conservation Areas, which includes: Civic Core, Estcourt, Grove Mill Lane, High Street and King Street, Macdonell Gardens, Nascot, Oxhey, St Mary's, The Square and Watford Heath.

Please share this consultation with anyone you think may be interested or leave another comment on the platform.

Conservation areas exist to protect the uniqueness of places and there are around 10,000 areas in England, with 10 of them within the Borough. They have extra planning controls and considerations in place to protect the historical elements of the area.

The Watford Conservation Area Management Plan is currently being reviewed and updated to ensure the document reflects the latest policy and guidance, as well as ensuring that the unique special interest of the areas are captured and protected.

Residents can have their say via the council’s engagement at watfordheritage.commonplace.is, which allows people to use geographically-focused interactive maps. Users can pin their feedback to specific locations, to help the council understand what local residents are saying - and where. Questions being asked include people’s favourite area of Watford and suggestions for places that could be further enhanced.

The Conservation team will be in the Urban Room (15-17 Queens Road - the old Santander opposite Primark) on 16 August (2pm to 4pm) and 24 August (12:30pm to 4pm). People can found out more about the town's 10 Conservation areas and leave suggestions for places that could be further enhanced. We will inform you again if the team run more drop-in sessions before the consultation closes on 30 September.

If you haven't already, don't forget to leave your comments on https://watfordheritage.commonplace.is/en-GB/map/have-your-say

What is a Conservation area and why are we asking for feedback

Conservation areas exist to protect the uniqueness of places and there are around 10,000 areas in England, with 10 of them within the Borough. They have extra planning controls and considerations in place to protect the historical elements of the area. The areas include: Civic Core, Estcourt, Grove Mill Lane, High Street and King Street, Macdonell Gardens, Nascot, Oxhey, St Mary's, The Square and Watford Heath.

The Watford Conservation Area Management Plan is currently being reviewed and updated to ensure the document reflects the latest policy and guidance, as well as ensuring that the unique special interest of the areas are captured and protected.

Via the council’s engagement at watfordheritage.commonplace.is, people can use geographically-focused interactive maps to pin their feedback to specific locations. This will help the council understand what local residents are saying - and where. Questions being asked include people’s favourite area of Watford and suggestions for places that could be further enhanced.

Conservation areas exist to protect the uniqueness of places and there are around 10,000 areas in England, with 10 of them within the Borough. They have extra planning controls and considerations in place to protect the historical elements of the area. The areas include: Civic Core, Estcourt, Grove Mill Lane, High Street and King Street, Macdonell Gardens, Nascot, Oxhey, St Mary's, The Square and Watford Heath.

They are normally areas of special architectural or historic interest, including buildings which are included on the council’s Local List. This includes a wide range of properties and structures, from the Watford Girls’ Grammar School and the town’s Central Library, to Edwardian horse troughs and World War II pillboxes.

The list also features buildings in the town that were designed by architects of international importance, such as Erno Goldfinger, Alison and Peter Smithson and Ethel Clara McNamara - one of the first women architects to be recognised as such in England in the 1920s.

The Watford Conservation Area Management Plan is currently being reviewed and updated to ensure the document reflects the latest policy and guidance, as well as ensuring that the unique special interest of the areas are captured and protected.

Residents can have their say via the council’s engagement at watfordheritage.commonplace.is, which allows people to use geographically-focused interactive maps. Users can pin their feedback to specific locations, to help the council understand what local residents are saying - and where. Questions being asked include people’s favourite area of Watford and suggestions for places that could be further enhanced.

Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Watford has a lot of beautiful places that need to be preserved to protect the heritage of the town. There are also 259 locally listed buildings in Watford and this document helps protect these buildings and places. It’s so important the council hears from residents about what places and buildings are important to you, and we would really welcome the public’s thoughts on our Conservation Area Appraisals.”

Upon adoption, the plan will set out the actions the council will be taking to ensure that the special architectural or historic interest is protected for future generations. For more information, please visit www.watford.gov.uk/planning.