A young mother is protesting to Hertsmere Borough Council about plans to concrete over an area of parkland in Borehamwood.

Nicole Woods, 32, of Bullhead Road, Borehamwood, is gathering signatures for a petition against Elstree Studios' application to build an access road across Maxwell Park from Maxwell Road to the studios, and a car park for the community centre over a grassed area of the park.

The mother-of-one believes the letter from the council -- which owns the the studios in Shenley Road -- informing residents of the planning application was unclear and misleading. She has already written to the council to voice her objections and now wants the people of Borehamwood to know what the development will involve.

She said: "I feel that people do not know exactly what is proposed. I only realised we would lose grassland and have noisy traffic driving through the park when I saw the detailed plans at the council.

"I have every support for the studios, but I like to walk with my two-year-old daughter in the park and if the plans are approved simple pleasures like that will be affected. Green spaces are essential to maintain quality of life, especially in urban areas where they are few and far between. How can park users enjoy the park if it changed so much?"

Mrs Woods, who has lived in Borehamwood for six years, believes it is not only park users who would be affected by the development but also the residents living in surrounding roads.

"Many vehicles travelling down the extended part of Maxwell Road would be construction vehicles. These would be incredibly noisy and the fumes would pollute the air," she said. "It is not necessary to build another access road as one is already being constructed in Shenley Road from the Tesco service road.

"I do hope the council will consider withdrawing these plans. Our parks should be preserved in their entirety, for future generations to enjoy. If we do not treat these matters with a firm hand our green spaces will be lost forever."

A spokesman for the council said: "Any letters that we receive opposing developments will be reported to the planning committee. They are all taken into consideration when decisions are made.

"If residents feel that the information we have given them about plans is not clear they should inform us and we will be willing to clarify them."

A spokesman for Elstree Studios added that the opinions and worries of residents would be taken into account, and the new car park for the community centre would be a benefit to the centre's users.

A decision on the two planning applications -- one for temporary and one for permanent vehicular and pedestrian access from Maxwell Road to Elstree studios -- is set to be made at the council's next planning committee meeting due to take place on March 19.

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