Bosses at Elstree Studios have withdrawn their application to build a temporary access road through a Borehamwood park following weeks of resistance from residents.

Head of studios Neville Reid made the decision after learning that a petition had been signed by 79 residents living near Maxwell Park opposing the plans.

"The last thing we want to do is upset the people who have given the studios so much support," said Mr Reid. "The views of people living near here, and near Maxwell Park are important to us and if something we want to do is going to cause so much trouble it's really not worth it. We didn't want conflict so we decided to withdraw the application."

The planning application had been submitted so that contractors' vehicles working on the new sound stages could enter the site with the minimum disturbance to other parts of the studios.

Nicole Woods of Bullhead Road, Borehamwood, organised the petition against the plans because she feared that lorries using the access road would present a danger to park users as well as creating extra noise and pollution.

The mother-of-one was delighted when she heard the application from the studios, which are in Elstree Way, had been withdrawn.

She said: "This is brilliant news. I am so pleased that the studios and the council have listened to us and that we will be able to continue using our park for the time being.

"It just shows that if you care about your community and speak up you will be listened to and something can be done about issues you are concerned about."

Hertsmere Councillor David Wernick, who last week accused the Labour council, which owns Elstree Studios, of bending the rules to rush the application through and rail-roading residents views, was pleased that the voice of the people had proved triumphant.

"This is exactly what should have happened," he said. "It is no good having one set of rules for private companies and another set for yourself. The residents deserved to be listened to and this shows they have."

The problem still remains, however, of how lorries are going to enter the site, because building work has to continue.

Mr Reed said: "We still need to be able to get vehicles in. I think the access road may be the only viable option, and I am going to invite the campaigners to the studios to have a look at the problems we face, so that if this is the only way we can apply for planning permission at a later date.

"There may a possibility of bringing vehicles through the front, or possibly through the Tesco service road although I do think this would affect our ability to hire out the water tank which would of course affect our income."

"We'll just have wait and see and hope that there is a solution which will suit everyone."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.