Plans to improve facilities at a health club and nursery in Leavesden Country Park have been shunned by ward Councillor Martin Brooks. 

YMCA West and Central Herts (The Woodlands Centre) has been working with Three Rivers District Council on plans to convert the centre's existing tennis courts into a Multi Use Games Area and two 3G football pitches.

Plans also include the creation of a new community building to allow local residents to enjoy a range of youth, community and wellbeing activities. 

However Councillor Brooks, who was also the first Park Ranger at Leavesden Country Park between 2001 and 2009, says the new development will over-commercialise the park and is not wanted by residents. 

He said: "Ever since I was appointed as the first Park Ranger at Leavesden Country Park I have been a supporter of the services provided by the Woodlands YMCA, including their health club facilities, boxing club (when it was there), nursery and dance studio to the local community. 

"Up until now there has always been a balanced relationship between the services the YMCA provided and the numerous users, visitors and neighbours of this 57 acre quiet, nature rich urban open space. But the scales are now tipping in favour of the Woodlands YMCA with their latest proposal to over commercialise the park, with the installation of a flood light, Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), and if successfil, two all-weather turf pitches (ATP), along with all the assorted fencing, gates and additional walkway lighting that goes with creating a sports, recreation and leisure centre in the middle of an urban park.

"Are we now going to be looking at numbers, banners and advertising signage promoting this money making operation dotted around the park obscuring trees and scenery? And what happens to the family who want to come to the park to have a kick about with the kids on a weekend? Are they now going to have to queue up and then pay a privilege to use these new facilities? Or spend countless hours listening to the colourful language of teenage football teams as they play late into the flood-lit evenings?"

Councillor Brooks added that in two different surveys, users of Leavesden Country Park and the leisure facilities audit commissioned by the councils department, there is no mention of a MUGA and ATPs needed or wanted in the park. 

He said: "The YMCA and the council seem to have gone out and consulted with one local and other unidentified football clubs in or around the area and convinced them that they are in desperate need of more expensive/high maintenance football pitches because there are not enough in the area." 

Public consultations are being held on Wednesday, December 10 and 11 at The Woodlands Centre from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Comments can also be emailed to woodlandsconsultation@watfordymca.com