More than £2,000 designated for community projects was used to pay for a damaged gate owned by Hertsmere Borough Council.

The play area entrance, in Park Avenue, Bushey, has been repeatedly vandalised over the past two years, leaving residents “reluctant” to use the park.

North Bushey councillor Roger Kutchinsky approached Hertsmere Borough Council (HBC) to pay for a new gate but they had no money left in their parks budget.

Instead Mr Kutchinsky and former north Bushey councillor Miki Colne applied to HBC for £220 and £2,000 respectively from their ward initiative money.

Mr Kutchinsky admitted he thought the council should probably have paid for the new gate but that it solved an ongoing problem for north Bushey residents.

He said: “It was clear the council were not going to be able to pay for it this year so I thought it was a good idea. They are now talking about paying for some more fencing out of the parks budget.”

The new gate was vandalised within days of it being erected at the beginning of July, though police say they do not have any evidence as to who is doing it.

North Bushey councillor Steve O'Brien added that he was “surprised” the application was granted.

“It is not what the money is supposed to be used for. Hertsmere Borough Council have known about this problem for some time and I think they should have spent the money on it.”