Playgrounds at Harebreaks and Harwoods will be demolished and 16 people will lose their jobs.

At an overview and scrutiny committee meeting last night, Watford Borough councillors went ahead with the decision to scrap the supervised play areas, rather than send the decision back to the cabinet for reconsideration.

The council was asked to rethink the decision they made on July 4, after opposition Labour councillors said there had been a “lack of consultation” for residents and users of the playgrounds.

The six Liberal Democrat committee members voted against sending the decision back to the cabinet. The three Labour councillors voted in favour.

The parks will be demolished on October 31.

Cllr Nigel Bell, who represents Holywell, said: “Parents and children have been let down by an out of touch mayor and a Liberal Democrat council that is not prepared to listen and compromise.

"Many families will be bitterly upset across Watford at the failure of the Liberal Democrats to even look at consultation and a consensual approach.

“They have made a decision to cut this vital service in the face of protests from families and children across Watford.

“It was a sad night for Watford.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Rabi Martins said: "Sending this decision back to cabinet wouldn't have made a difference, it would have only delayed the process further. 

"And there seems to be a misunderstanding - we are not taking away the play areas, we are only taking away the rangers. 

"No one likes to take away people's jobs and it's not a decision the council takes lightly, but we have to face the reality of the council's financial constraints." 

The council has said they will invest £1.25million in building unsupervised playgrounds, which will be completed by next May.