WITH the final piece of the jigsaw now in place, a rubbish dump will be transformed into a facility for the whole community.

Plans for floodlights at Riverside Park have been given the go-ahead which means the new skate and ball park at the site will be able to used on winter evenings when construction is finished.

The move was greeted with delight by councillors, residents and youth workers at a meeting of Watford Council's development control committee last week.

The committee room was packed to bursting with interested members of the public.

And, in what could be a unique event in the history of council, youngsters were in the audience to ensure the skate park plan was embraced.

Councillors from all parties obliged unanimously, and tripped over themselves to back the idea.

Liberal group leader Iain Sharpe said: "It's very appropriate we should have so many young people here tonight because they have put an awful lot of work into progressing this project.

"It is really exciting for the local community a piece of good news."

The consensus was that making the facility available during the evenings was essential to its success.

Councillor Sharpe praised Riverside Park as an example of residents and the council working together.

Conservative councillor Sheila Jones said everyone round the table favoured the lighting, but she said it must not be too bright.

The committee decided enough measures had been taken to limit visual pollution caused by the lights.

Labour councillor Rashid Choudhrey said the skate and ball park would be used by young people, and said it was appropriate they had taken responsibility for it.

"We ought to thank everyone for coming here and contributing to the project," he said.

The committee had heard from Mr Nick Jeffrey, chairman of Rookery Tenants and Residents' Association.

He said: "This has been a long, long process that has involved all the community, including the young people here tonight who use the recreation area and look forward to using the skate park."

He said proper facilities would reduce the need for people to play in the street.

October 22, 2001 19:29

Philip Sands