RESIDENTS from Radlett Road in Watford have welcomed a £60,000 project to improve pedestrian and road safety in their neighbourhood.

The project was given the go ahead by the County Council and work is due to start later this month.

Improvements will involve new pedestrian islands between Colonial Way and Orphanage Road, cycle lanes and anti-skid resurfacing.

And in the section of Radlett Road between Orphanage Road and Edbury Road, there will be traffic calming features and road narrowing as well as advance warnings of a low bridge.

Liberal Democrat county councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, also welcomed the news.

He said: "I am delighted that at long last the works, paid for by the county council, but designed with the help of Watford officers, will start later this month.

"Residents on the Radlett Road Estate have long pressed for pedestrian improvements and measures to slow traffic down along the road.

"At last, after months of discussions and consultations with local residents, we have an agreed plan."

Councillor Giles-Medhurst claimed that another £75,000 would also be invested into the project.

He continued: "The monies come from money held by the county council from developments in the area.

"We knew all along that £60,000 would not be enough to do the works residents wanted or that was needed.

"I am glad that we found a way to fund more works and we have got another £75,000 that will enable a full light controlled crossing to go near Raphael Drive to help serve the estate, and improvements in the estate."

Watford Borough Councillor Rabi Martins also backed the project. He said: "The hard work and constant pressure from Stephen in the last year has got the scheme off the planning board and into the ground. I am sure these measures will make the road much safer for residents."

A council spokesman said: "It was always our programme to begin design work on the scheme in October 2001, and for work to be completed by the end of this financial year, so we are please that we are tending the needs of the residents in the Radlett Road area.

Leader of the Watford Council, Mr Vince Muspratt, however expressed his concerns about the chicanes proposed on Radlett Road.

He said: "I know that the residents association are very concerned about the use of chicanes because of the number of accidents they cause locally and up and the country.

"Overall, I am very pleased with the development taking place, it has been around for a long time.

"We have been working alongside the Waterfield Residents Association, Radlett Residents Association, Central Green Zone, and emergency and rescue, everything seems to be going well, we have one final hurdle and that is the issue of chicanes."