WATFORD COUNCIL was accused on Tuesday of 'completely failing' to give good grounds for rejecting plans for a 101-bedroom hotel.

A one-day hearing at Watford Town Hall was called after developers Colne Bridge Investments appealed against Watford Council's decision to refuse permission for the hotel and 89 parking spaces, in Timms Meadow, Water Lane, Watford.

This was in the face of a recommendation by Watford council officers and Hertfordshire County Council's highways department to grant planning permission subject to an agreement which would have seen the developers invest more than £60,000 into traffic and parking measures in the area.

Watford Council had objected on the grounds that the proposed hotel would generate more traffic in Water Lane and the plan failed to provide adequate on-site parking.

The council had relied on the terms of the Watford District Plan when refusing permission but, at Tuesday's hearing, the council withdrew its objections on the car-parking issue.

Mr William Hicks, for Colne Bridge Investments, attacked the council for its reasoning and told the planning inspector, Alan Boyland, no proof had been shown to substantiate fears of increased traffic.

He said: 'No surveys, facts or figures have been put before the inquiry. There is no evidence to show there would be a greater impact.

'The council is now insisting the site is not sufficiently accessible by rail. That's a completely different reason for refusal and the only one left to them as they have completely failed to establish grounds.

'The council cannot start changing its reasons at the last moment.'

The inspector had told the representatives to tackle the issue of whether there would be an increase in flooding problems.

Hertsmere Council, which backed Watford's decision and fears the proposed development would exacerbate existing problems with flooding, sent its drainage service manager, Mr Neil Harding, to the inquiry.

He said: 'The Hertsmere side of the railway tunnel from Bushey Hall Road to Water Lane floods at least once a year, causing the road to be closed.

'When the River Colne floods, or water backs up from the drains, the excess water would flow into the site of Timms Meadow which would become submerged.

'By taking the site out of the flood plain, there is a need for the water that would have gone there to go somewhere else, otherwise it will stay in the tunnel, flowing over the pathway and increasing the levels.

'The level set by the agency may be fine now but floods are an act of God and the risk is likely to increase in the future.'

Mr Hicks responded: 'Our site has been given permission by the Environment Agency to be raised above the flood level. Our responsibility is to do that.

'It is up to you, Watford and the Highways Agency to sort it out and not to rely on us to do it for you. It's no grounds to prevent us from building the site.'

Mr Simon Pickles, for Watford Council, told the inquiry: 'The national regional policy calls for a balance to be struck in the development policy and the need to reduce travel by car and high levels of accessibility by public transport.'

He added: 'The overwhelming bulk of people going to this hotel would use their cars as it is convenient. The guests would generate additional traffic in Water Lane.'

Mr Hicks replied: 'We believe the council has acted unreasonably and that there should not have been an inquiry.'

The inspector is considering the case.