Councillors will decide this week whether to reaffirm a decision to protect trees on land that is threatened by the development of a football stadium.

Hertsmere Borough Council's planning committee must decide whether to grant a new tree preservation order at Bushey Hall Golf Club after an objection to one currently in place was raised.

The council approved the order on January 15 this year but the golf course owners Veladail Leisure Ltd submitted an objection in February, based on several grounds.

The owners challenged the council's decision, arguing the order included trees that "did not merit" a tree preservation order, adding a willow tree had been included in the order that had already been felled in October last year.

The objection also claimed there is "inadequate public interest" in making an order because there is "no lawful public access" to the private golf site.

This Is Local London: Bushey Hall Golf Club, which closed in 2019 after the clubhouse was demolished for 32 flatsBushey Hall Golf Club, which closed in 2019 after the clubhouse was demolished for 32 flats

The tree preservation order granted earlier this year covers a total of 27 individual trees, nine groups and eight areas of woodlands.

The order means no protected trees can be cut down without receiving permission first from the council.

In the report that will be presented to the planning committee this week, it states the order came about after the council was approached by a number of local residents and councillors with concerns about potential development and loss of trees at Bushey Hall Golf Club, which closed as a golf club in 2019.

The report adds that when making the decision to grant a preservation order, proposals by the golf course owners to "significantly alter the state of the site through redevelopment demonstrated a viable threat to large numbers of trees on site".

This Is Local London:

Veladail Leisure Ltd has put forward the golf course as a new employment site as part of the council's emerging local plan.

The proposals include a 33,000 seater stadium - with Watford FC listed as the occupiers - along with a 6,000 seater indoor arena, hotel, offices, conference facilities for up to 1,000 people, a cinema, restaurants, the creation of a country park, and recreational facilities.

This Is Local London: A masterplan created by the owners of Bushey Hall Golf Club pinpointing new developments including a stadium and indoor arenaA masterplan created by the owners of Bushey Hall Golf Club pinpointing new developments including a stadium and indoor arena

The council is considering dozens of sites that have been put forward by landowners or developers for housing or employment.

It recently delayed the next stage of its local plan process until the autumn - the publication of sites deemed appropriate for development - in order to consider the appropriateness of 21 new sites suggested for employment, including Bushey Hall Golf Club.

This Is Local London: Hertsmere Borough Council offices in BorehamwoodHertsmere Borough Council offices in Borehamwood (Image: Newsquest)

But before then, the planning committee will decide whether to grant a tree preservation order at Bushey Hall, with a meeting taking place on Thursday (June 17).

The modified order covers a total of 26 individual trees, ten groups and seven areas of woodland.

Bushey North Lib Dem councillor Paul Richards said: "It's vital that we keep the tree preservation order in place at Bushey Hall Golf Club, which is why I've requested to appear before the planning committee to speak in its defence."

If the committee decides not to approve the order, the original order granted in January will lapse.