A planning inspector has yet to be appointed to decide whether a historic clock tower should be saved from demolition.
The fate of the Sun Clock Tower in Watford remains uncertain after its owner submitted an appeal after his application to knock the tower down was refused by Watford Borough Council.
A government planning inspector will now scrutinise the application and could choose to overrule the council’s decision made at the end of March
The council turned down a plan to knock down the clock tower in Ascot Road stating the monument had "historical significance" to the area.
Many residents in Watford had also objected to the scheme, claiming the "landmark" tower is an example of Watford's rich printing history.
See more: Sun Clock Tower demolition refused by council
Watford Borough Council turned down an application at the end of March to demolish the Sun Clock Tower. Credit: Lynda Bullock/Watford Observer Camera Club
However, the applicant Paul Stacey, has described the tower – built in 1934 – as "hazardous" and "unfit for purpose", and almost immediately appealed the council's decision.
Mr Stacey wrote in his comments to the planning inspectorate that he believes the clock tower site provides a "redevelopment opportunity for the council".
See more: 'Hazardous' Sun Clock Tower could still be demolished after appeal launched
A letter published in the council’s planning portal has confirmed Mr Stacey’s appeal was validated on April 21 but an inspector is yet to be appointed.
It read: "We are now waiting for a suitable planning inspector to become available. Once we are able to appoint an inspector you will be allocated a named case officer who will write to you starting the appeal and setting out details of the timetable and procedure.
"They will also confirm when the Inspector’s site visit/hearing will take place."
The Sun Clock Tower site. Credit: Stephen Danzig/Watford Observer Camera Club
The planning inspectorate deals with around 20,000 cases a year across England.
The letter added: “In order to process these as efficiently as possible our staff work hard to ensure that they identify Inspectors in the appropriate location with the appropriate experience to determine cases.”
Members of the public will have an opportunity to make comments to the inspector once the appeal process has officially begun.
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