The museum trust selling off part of the Reveley Lodge estate says it needs the money to carry out vital repairs to the historic Bushey landmark.

The land, known as 'The Paddocks', in Elstree Road, is now at the centre of a controversial planning application proposing to build four blocks of flats on the site.

But the Bushey Museum Property Trust, which owns the land, has criticised a petition campaigning to get the site Local Green Space status that would potentially halt urgently needed renovations to the rest of the estate.

Granville Taylor, chairman of the trustees, explained that designation as a Local Green Space effectively meant it would become Green Belt land.

He said: "You could use it for growing crops or grazing animals, but that's about it.

"From being worth a substantial sum, the land would effectively become worthless, possibly overgrown and home to vermin.

"We're fearful that there would be a kind of domino effect. We will run out of money, we'll gradually shut down the Lodge and gardens, and then it would be sold for development.

"I'm also not convinced that The Paddocks would not be developed sometime in the future given the demand for housing. So we could lose both sites."

He said the trust is selling the land to secure the "long-term future of Reveley Lodge, which requires urgent repairs and enhancement" so that it can continue to be used for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of Bushey.

Hertsmere Borough Council will be considering what is to happen to The Paddocks at its full council meeting on Wednesday, July 8.

Mr Taylor said Government policy required Local Green Space should be demonstrably special and have a particular local significance because of its beauty, historical significance, recreational value, tranquillity or richness of its wildlife.

He said: "None of these apply. The field is not particularly beautiful, as far as we can see nothing historical has ever been associated with the field, it's never been used for recreation.

"Elstree road is hardly tranquil even in the middle of the night, and apart from the odd fox, there's no evidence of any esoteric animals."

He was concerned that the council were not using the Government criteria to judge whether the land should be designated a Local Green Space, but some criteria of their own that pre-dated Government guidance.

He continued: "To make a decision of such an implication to the survival of Bushey's heritage based on other than Government criteria is both careless and callous."

The house and gardens of Reveley Lodge were bequeathed to Bushey Museum by its last owner, Eila Chewett, who used to hold popular garden parties every year at Reveley and was Bushey Museum's first president.

Reveley Lodge is used for events such Jazz on the lawn, meetings and around 500 school children a year visit Reveley for educational sessions.

Mr Taylor said: "From what I've seen, there's nothing compelling about the arguments put forward by the Council, and I'm sure Mrs Chewett would be absolutely livid if she thought her beloved home, and her generous gift to the people of Bushey were being thoughtlessly compromised."