Plans to carry out £6.6 million of renovations to Cassiobury Park have been approved by councillors - despite concerns relocation of the bandstand to the park will create an antisocial behaviour hotspot.

Watford Borough Council development control committee gave the go-ahead to restoration work that included moving the historic bandstand from its current position outside the Town Hall back to its original site in the park.

But politicians insisted extra security needed to be installed around the feature after Hertfordshire Constabulary and residents raised concerns it would become a focal point for unsavoury activity.

The proposals also include the restoration of park entrances, demolition of the kiosks around the paddling pools and the erection of a new hub building with café, community and exhibition room, education facilities, toilets and changing facilities.

In addition, the plans will improve the paddling pools and extend the Cha Cha Cha café.

Politicians followed the recommendation of council planners by granting permission for the development.

Committee member Nigel Bell, Labour councillor for Holywell, queried how the new hub building would fit in with the surrounding landscape.

But said he wasn’t going to reject the whole application based on that one concern.

He said: "We welcome the plans. I have concerns about how the hub will blend in but I’m not going to reject the application.

"A lot of the changes look quite good.

"With regards to the bandstand, I do not see why we can’t look at putting CCTV in or other measures."

Speaking after the meeting, Binita Mehta, Conservative councillor for Park ward, said it was a reasonable plan and she looked forward to seeing the completed regeneration.

However, she added: "My main concern is parking, which will be inadequate during the summer, on increasingly frequent event days and when our park becomes more popular with the planned new facilities.

"There are already significant and connected parking issues across Park ward. We need a sensible plan for this which meets the needs of residents and visitors alike."

This summer, Cassiobury Park received a £4.5 million of Lottery Funding which, added to the council’s financial commitment, means that £6.6 million is going to be spent on the improvement projects and restoration work to the West Watford attraction.