A resident is feeling "duped" by the council and a health club and nursery in Leavesden Country Park following a proposal to improve the centre's facilities.

Secretary of Leavesden Country Park Group and resident of Linnet Road, Tracy Turner, has voiced concerns over plans to redevelop the YMCA Woodlands centre, which involve converting the centre's existing tennis courts into a multi-use games area and two football pitches.

As well reiterating that the park was left in "perpetuum" for the people of Leavesden to enjoy following the closure of the hospital - meaning it is a free facility for the use of all to enjoy and not for a "proft making/commercial venture" as she describes - Ms Turner is also livid that the public consultation over the plans, which was held on Wednesday, was not publicised.

Ms Turner said: "I was surprised to see in the Liberal Democrats' newsletter that was pushed through my door on December 8 that the YMCA were holding a consultation on their proposals for the redevelopment of the tennis courts. Not only was this very short notice but there was very scant information about what they are actually trying to do. 

"I live very close to the YMCA - my house backs the park where the proposed changes will take place - but there have been no leaflets.

"I feel that the public are being duped by the council and the YMCA who are trying to push these changes through under the radar. Is this what they call a public consultation? Nobody around here knows anything about the proposals and we have not been consulted or given the right as local residents to object."

Leavesden Councillor Sara Bedford has been a councillor for more than 18 years, and has seen all the developments on the old hospital site and seen many attempts to improve and enhance the leisure offerings there. 

Councillor Bedford said: "The consultation held this week was organised by the YMCA and not the council. The formal consultation will follow when planning permission is applied for, in the usual manner. 

"This is the first step in the process. The YMCA gave a presentation on their plans at the Local Area Forum held last month, which was widely advertised. This week's event is merely, as it says, consultative. The YMCA did deliver leaflets to local homes, but I'm sorry if for some reason Tracy missed out."

Councillor Bedford added that there were no present plans for any charging structure or hours of operation for any new facilities. She said: "The facilities that are being consulted on are the one for which there is great demand in the area for, and the council does have to take that into account. 

"Hours of operation would be part of the planning application and any charging structure would be set to ensure the maintenance of the facilities was covered, and to balance costs across the site. Maintenance of the country park is covered separately by Three Rivers. The YMCA is a registered charity and the council is not a profit-making institution."

Residents or members of the public who are opposed to any additional facilities on the site are urged to get involved in all consultations that take place.