Any plans for a parish council in Bushey appeared to be quashed yesterday as councillors and residents almost unanimously slammed an additional level of government.

A presentation supporting a village council by Bushey councillor Roger Kutchinsky was heavily criticised by a room full of residents and politicians, showing the area was not willing to follow the recent footsteps of other Hertsmere areas South Mimms and Potters Bar.

Councillor Kutchinsky's speech at the Bushey Forum, a panel set up to debate local issues, focused on a need for a decision-making pressure group to highlight the village's problems to the Borehamwood-based borough council, improve Bushey's street scene and fund projects such as Christmas lights.

He said: “Issues with Bushey don't factor highly on Hertsmere Borough Council's list of priorities. There is quite some distance between Bushey and Borehamwood and we lag behind other areas.”

Some 100 members of the forum, however, failed to see the alleged advantages and refused to support “another level of bureaucracy”.

Bushey Park Conservative Councillor Linda Silver said she had circulated a questionnaire before May's local government elections and had received hundreds of replies, the majority of which opposed a parish council.

She was later joined by Councillor Kutchinsky's fellow Liberal Democrats, as the party's leader in Hertsmere, Bushey Park Councillor Lynne Hodgson said other surveys had reached a similar result.

Councillor Silver said: “I think we are going through very hard times at the moment and it’s not the time for it. We feel very strongly about Bushey and it is not forgotten. Another layer of democracy is not necessary.”

Norman Vincent, one of several residents speaking on the issue, questioned whether recent successes in the village, such as securing a £942,000 Lottery grant for the Bushey Rose Garden could have been bettered by a parish council.

He added: “We are over bureaucratised as it is and don't welcome another level of bureaucracy that we have to pay for.”

Councillor Kutchinsky suggested a cross-party panel made up of Hertsmere Borough Councillors for Bushey as a compromise but subsequent speakers favoured the current structure and meetings such as the evening's Bushey Forum.

Bushey Heath Councillor Anne Swerling said: “We are here to help the residents of Bushey. I personally do not see a need for another tier of government. This is a good group, let's keep it.”

A vote concluded the discussion with all residents and the majority of councillors raising their hands in objection to implementing the Parish Council, a result which was included in the meeting's minutes for future reference.