Neighbours are petitioning against plans to turn a 60-year-old equestrian centre in Bushey into more than 30 homes.

Developers, Clovercourt Fusion, has submitted an application to both Hertsmere and Watford Borough Councils to build 34 flats and houses on the Bucks Meadow Riding School site in Bucks Avenue - 12 of which would be affordable housing.

Part of the riding school, including the entrance to the site, is in Oxhey Village, Watford.

The Oxhey Village Environment Group (OVEG) is campaigning against the "large" number of houses being proposed and say it will have a huge impact on the traffic.

The proposals also include 74 car parking spaces and the 11 hectares of Green Belt land on the site will be open to the public and a link provided to the Merry Hill circular walk.

Kim Baxter, committee member of OVEG, said: "We are not against the development per say.

"This is a quiet residential road and we just want the development to represent the local area and not look out of character or have such an impact on the Green Belt and on the traffic."

Ms Baxter, of Sherwood Roads, previously told the Watford Observer that currently, the traffic and congestion is "horrendous" - particularly during rush hour, and having an additional 74 cars, will only make it a "nightmare".

She also raised concerns regarding the site entrance, which is on bend with Sherwoods Road, saying it is dangerous.

Ms Baxter added: "The residents raised these concerns at the two consultations they had.

"We are very disappointed and shocked that the developers have not taken our concerns into consideration - what is the point of having these consultations then?"

OVEG have collected 250 signatures on their petition and are also asking residents to send in letters of objection to both councils.

The application will be considered by the planning committees of both councils - if either one refuses then it is unlikely that the development will go ahead.

Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill is backing the residents' concerns, She said: "The scale of the scheme is an over-development and not in character with that area.

"What Watford needs is one or two bedroom houses and that area needs significant family homes.

"There is a real need for good quality family homes and this is the perfect site for it, because that is exactly what the surrounding area has."

Iain Taylor, head of planning at Clovercourt, said in an open letter: "There have been many objections to the number of dwellings and the traffic generation attributed to the same.

"Correspondence with Hertfordshire County Council makes it abundantly clear that county do not share this concern and do not raise an objection to either the number of dwellings, the adequacy of the site access or indeed road and highway safety or traffic congestion in the round.

"When considered purely in relation to this aspect of the proposal, there is no necessity of dwelling numbers to be reduced."

Clovercourt are proposing to buy the centre subject to getting planning permission from both councils.

Madeline White and Tom Harkness have owned Bucks Meadow Riding Centre for 23 years. They said: "It is a very sad decision that we are having to close the school. The centre has not been economically viable for some considerable time."

Bucks Meadow is the second equestrian centre to close down for economic reasons. Patchetts Green Equestrian Centre in Aldenham closed down in August.