Watford's MP and mayor could be set for a showdown meeting after a blazing row over the borough's housing policy.

Tory Dean Russell and Lib Dem Peter Taylor clashed over the MP's claim that the 12,000-home target, set by the Government, was not being challenged in the council's Local Plan.

In a stinging follow-up letter the mayor accused Mr Russell of being misleading and attempting to "sabotage" the process before the borough council confirmed it will press ahead as planned.

Mr Russell fired back this week with a three-page letter disputing multiple claims and offering to meet the mayor to discuss their differences.

The rebuttal starts by saying he was "taken aback" by the sabotage claim, adding he dislikes "political point-scoring" and was disappointed by the accusation of being disingenuous.

He also said he never claimed the plan was unsound and believed it was odd not to explicitly criticise the housing target in the Local Plan after such public criticism beforehand.

“Even if every other option had been exhausted, and every process followed, choosing not to raise concerns directly in the official documentation read by the National Inspectorate – even informally in the foreword - seemed a notable omission given the considerable efforts to criticise the targets publicly,” Mr Russell wrote.

Mr Taylor has since responded in an email, seen by the Watford Observer, saying: “I would be very happy to meet with you to discuss this matter and to find out if you will be opposing these proposals and what steps you are taking to reduce Watford’s unfair housing target.”

 

The mayor wrote he disagreed with several points and highlighted councils nationwide having their Local Plans rejected for failing to meet Government targets, adding “your reply does not acknowledge this reality”.

“Central to this debate is the fact that your government has tripled Watford’s housing target and reduced the power of local communities to decide what is best for an area,” he wrote.

Mr Taylor also suggested Secretary of State Robert Jenrick should join them to discuss “overdevelopment in Watford” and the algorithm that created the area’s housing target.

The Local Plan is currently going through final checks and is expected to be officially submitted to the Planning Inspectorate next week.

Watford Observer: The two are arguing over plans for 12,000 homes in Watford over the next 15 years. Picture: Vic JoThe two are arguing over plans for 12,000 homes in Watford over the next 15 years. Picture: Vic Jo

Examination hearings will then be arranged between August and December, where an inspector will assess whether it meets legal requirements and could potentially suggest modifications.

If accepted, it is expected to be adopted around February 2022.