Fans and residents react to possible new Watford stadium in Bushey

Last week, planning documents revealed Bushey Hall Golf Course had been put forward as a site for a 33,000 seater stadium and a host of other facilities.

Although it has been dubbed a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for Watford to relocate from its current home in Vicarage Road, the idea has been put forward by the owners of the course rather than the club itself.

Bushey Hall Golf Club masterplan proposal depicting new stadium, indoor arena and more

So what do Watford fans and Bushey residents think of the proposals?

An Observer poll involving more than 900 readers last week revealed people are very much divided, with 51 per cent calling for Watford to stay put, while 49 per cent said a move could help the club grow.

At the moment, with Watford fans focused on securing an immediate return to the Premier League, most of the noise is coming from Bushey.

Opposition to redevelop Bushey Hall was inevitable ever since 5,000 people quickly put their name to a petition set up by the local Conservatives last summer "showing Watford the red card" to building in Bushey.

Over the last week, there have been calls to "keep Bushey green" and residents living close to the golf course have been in touch with the Observer firmly against the idea of building a stadium, citing concerns about the loss of green space and increased traffic.

The golf course at Bushey Hall

Leslie Winters, who runs Fisher’s Field Nature Reserve on the edge of Bushey Hall Golf Club, can scarcely believe the proposal.

The former Bushey councillor told the Observer: "There’s no way they could build a stadium here. It would be unsuitable. Fisher’s field is so popular right now. Can you imagine beehives on the edge of a football ground? I really can’t believe they would turn that area full of wildlife into a place welcoming thousands of people.

"It’s a quiet place and that is how it must remain. I will work day and night to stop it."

Fisher's Field

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What do Watford fans think?

While residents are very much against the idea of Watford moving to Bushey, the mood of the Hornets’ is harder to gauge.

Some don’t want to leave their home of 99 years, while others appear to be excited by the prospect of a new and bigger swanky stadium.

This stadium design, thought to be on the Bushey Hall site, was leaked last March

Lifelong Watford fan Paul Weldon, who lives in north London, said: "I’ve seen the club grow from a greyhound stadium with a pitch in it in the fourth division, through the Elton John era, and we are very excited to see how far the club has gone in the last ten years.

"We believe we belong in the Premier League and a new stadium will help that. If we want to play in Europe, we need the stadium to match. I don’t see how the club can progress to the next level without making sacrifices.

"I’ve got friends and family in Bushey behind the idea. The thought of a brand new stadium being built is truly mouth-watering."

Vicarage Road. Credit: Action Images

But fellow Hornet Robert Bell is not at all supportive of leaving Vicarage Road.

He wrote into the Observer: "The Vic is our home. We are Watford, not Bushey. I’ve been going to The Vic since 1952, I’m not changing. The proposed move is a disaster..we can’t get a 30,000 crowd now. A quarter empty stadium will look ridiculous.”

He added it would be a "really bad move".