Lib Dem petition against intu doors

1. ‘NO’ to intu lobby doors say
residents, traders & councillors!
intu want a set of
doors side by side
either side of a
lobby area at either
end of their building
over Queens Road.
intu Watford have applied to erect four sets of doors (creating
two lobbies), planning application no. 15/00844/FUL, at either
end of the intu tunnel. During opening hours of the store
pedestrians walking to the High Street will be required to push
open and go through four sets of doors to get from one end of
Queens Road to the High Street. When intu is closed the doors
will be “locked” open although there will still be a lobby. intu
have said they will upgrade the lighting to The Broadway
subway and put up new signage but this does not form part of
this planning application.
intu show what in their plans the doors to The
Broadway may look like. Note they are “open” but you
have to “open them” when the store is open. They will
block off the view to the subway and shops.
You can see The Broadway
signage and underpass from
the High Street - this view
will be blocked off!
OVERLEAF: HOW TO OBJECT
AND SIGN THE PETITION
Traders, councillors and residents meet with
intu to try to persuade them to change plans
Last Wednesday traders led by Mike Hewitt, The Queens Community
Action Group (QCAG - Helen Lynch, Chair) residents, Councillors Stephen
Giles-Medhurst, Steve Bolton and Rabi Martins, had a meeting at intu
with their General Manager Howard Stein, the designers, the Town Centre
Manager, Police officers and an officer from Highways to outline key concerns and seek a way
forward from intu to change their
plans. Whilst intu listened they seemed set on the idea of the doors and lobby. One of the
Police reps suggested just one set of doors at the High Street end to remove some of the
concerns about loss of footfall and trade to The Broadway. We have yet to see if intu would even
consider this!
County Council have to agree to the doors as it’s public highway
The area, as is the The Broadway underpass under the flyover, is public highway, the route of
the original Queens Road built over when the Harlequin, now intu, was built. intu need a licence
from the County Council to put the doors up.
Liberal Democrat County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst is asking County to refuse that
permission! Stephen said “Placing two sets of “lobby“ doors will restrict the freedom to have a
clear, uncluttered and unbroken thoroughfare across the intu intersection that has existed
since it was built, being part of the original planning permission. I am opposing this.”
Liberal Democrat campaigners oppose the lobby doors plans
Councillor Steve Bolton and Smith Street resident and campaigner Collette Blake, who has
already posted objections on FACEBOOK and informed residents say, “These doors will be a
hindrance to those with buggies and affect the sightlines.”

2. Say ‘No’ to the intu doors!
Petition to Watford Borough Council and Herts County Council
We, the undersigned, call upon Watford Borough Council to reject plans by intu to erect two sets of “lobby “ doors
either side of its development that will restrict public access along the public highway of Queens Road. We have no
objection to intu improving the walkway area between the two parts of its shopping Mall with lighting, additional
signage, new flooring and CCTV but believe the doors will create an unnecessary barrier to the free flow and right of
pedestrians.
We expect that this will have an unduly negative effect on traders in The Broadway where local residents, Councillors
and traders have achieved improvements to this shopping area. Placing two sets of “lobby“ doors will restrict the
freedom to have a clear, uncluttered and unbroken thoroughfare across the intu intersection that has existed since it
was built being part of the original planning permission. These lobbies, with a barrier of four doors, will discourage
those visiting intu and walking from the High Street from visiting The Broadway. This is a public highway, Herts County
Council should NOT grant any licence for such a structure which could also lead to an increase in anti-social activity,
especially in the lobby areas.
Printed Name Signature Address email
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News and action from your
local Liberal Democrat team
SPECIAL EDITION – intu
PETITION DROP OFF POINTS: 39 Grosvenor Road, 43 Derby Road, 3 Smith Street, 24 Sotheron Road
Or return to intu Petition, Central Watford Liberal Democrats, FREEPOST ANG9225, Watford WD17 4BR
How to object to the intu plans
1. Write a protest letter / email
You can email your objection to: developmentcontrol@watford.gov.uk or write to Watford Borough Council, Town Hall, Herts
WD17 3EX. Quote intu Watford plan reference : 15/0084/FUL. Comments need to be in by the end of the month. The Plans are
expected to be considered by Watford Council in early August. Copy your objections to Stephen at sgm@cix.co.uk
2. Sign the petition against the plans
County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst in conjunction with Helen Lynch and the traders has set up a petition. The wording is below. You can sign this
in one of the shops in The Broadway, or on line at: http://www.watfordlibdems.org/intudoors or just fill the petition below and drop it
back at one of the address indicated. The more signatures the better as this will help in persuading intu and the County Council that this is a bad idea and
must be changed as it stands. The petition could force intu to rethink this if they know the public are against it.
And why not join Collette Blake’s FACEBOOK site : Working for Central Watford where she has set up objections to this.
Printed by CLP, 25 Tudor Manor Gardens, Watford WD25 9TQ. Published by A.J. Wylie on behalf of Watford Liberal Democrats, both at 34 Kensington Avenue, Watford WD18 7RY.
3. Want more info:
Cllr Stephen Bolton (stephen.bolton13@virginmedia.com) 43 Derby Road and
Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst (sgm@cix.co.uk) have full pdf copies of the plans and
drawings if you want information or details. You can email them.
Printed by CLP, 25 Tudor Manor Gardens, Watford WD25 9TQ. Published by A.J. Wylie on behalf of Watford Liberal Democrats, both at 34 Kensington Avenue, Watford WD18 7RY.
Watford Observer July 10th