A vital decision about how South Oxhey will look in the future has been made by Three Rivers District Council.
The executive committee met tonight to address a fork in the road, whether to rebuild or refurbish the existing shops and flats.
A consultation, run in the town last year, revealed that 38 per cent of South Oxhey residents favoured refurbishment, as opposed to the 29 per cent who supported redevelopment.
Rob Holland, shopkeeper, said: “We all voted for refurbishment because we are concerned for our livelihood and businesses.
The residents of South Oxhey don't like change, a lot of people are not in favour of this.”
However, councillors decided that this option was not financially viable, and voted to redevelop the town instead.
Council leader Ann Shaw argued: “Refurbishment is not a financially sound approach, spending a great deal of public money repairing these buildings for a relatively short period of time, only to be back here in 25 years to do it all again.
“The precinct is in a dire state and this is recognised by local people who feel that something must be done. We are right to be looking at this in some detail.”
Councillor Matthew Bedford added: “Any option short of redevelopment would leave the flats in an unacceptable state, they are not fit for modern habitation and no refurbishment would bring them up to specification.”
The decision made tonight moves the regeneration project on to the stage where plans can be made up and discussed.
Councillor Chris Hayward said: “Investment in South Oxhey over the years has been inadequate, to turn around after the consultations and say we're not going to do anything would be the cruellest cut of all, we would have built up false hopes.
“We must reassure the shop keepers and tenants that this is very much at the early stage and nothing will go ahead without consultation.”
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