IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Ascot Road, WATFORD, WD99 1AS

Clearing vegetation from the disused railway line so eventually it can become used again! The road-rail vehicle clearing the plant life is running on the former single line. This picture is taken about 200yards from the photographer's position in Image], from the blue building visible on the left in that picture.

Cortland Cassiobury is the name given by American developers Cortland to a development in west Watford in which this 24-storey tower - Watford's tallest ever building - is the most prominent feature. In all the development will comprise 486 homes all of which are build-to-rent.

Part of West Watford's industrial past, this is the former Wemco works on Sydney Road.

This is the current end of the line! The branch to Croxley Green station from Watford High Street was opened by the London & North Western Railway in 1912 and finally succumbed in 1996, although the rails are still mainly extant back to Watford from here, just east of the Ascot Road bridge.

Ahead is the bridge carrying the disused Watford - Croxley Green railway. To the right construction work is taking place on a new residential tower. The slogan on the hoarding says: 'Better living coming here'.

Semi-detached houses line this stretch of Sydney Road, looking towards Whippendell Road.

In July 2013 The Secretary of State for Transport issued a Transport and Works Act Order for the proposed Croxley Rail Link scheme granting the planning permissions, access rights and land transfers necessary for the scheme to go ahead. The £118m scheme proposes that the current London Underground Metropolitan Line branch to Watford would be re-routed from a point east of Croxley station and extended to Watford Junction station via Watford High Street station, with the closure of the original Watford station to passenger traffic. It is proposed that new stations would be provided on the new rail link at Ascot Road, where a park and ride facility would be provided, and at Vicarage Road, in order to serve Watford General Hospital, the proposed Watford Health Campus development, and Watford Football Club. Construction work is scheduled to commence in 2014 with completion planned for 2016. The Croxley Rail Link's website is here http://www.croxleyraillink.com/Default.htm This is the original non-dual carriageway part of Ascot Road, with the former L&NWR bridge, built in 1912, carrying the line to the now derelict Croxley Green station crossing it. It is proposed that the new Ascot Road station and its entrances would be built to the right of the existing bridge.

As the name implies there was previously a commercial laundry on this site on Sydney Road. It is now being developed by Weston Homes who are building 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses. There will be eight separate 'architecturally distinctive' buildings.