Sale of Reveley Lodge land, in Bushey, is against wishes of former owner say campaigners

The Bushey Museum Property Trust will sell the field, in Elstree Road, to developers Signature, if planning permission for a care home can be obtained from Hertsmere Borough Council.

The trust claims it is being forced to sell the site to raise cash to maintain its Victorian estate, Reveley Lodge, in Elstree Road.

The lodge, along with various other property and shares, was left to the Bushey Museum in 2003 by its late owner, Eila Chewett, and the trust was set up to oversee its upkeep.

The Bushey Heath Residents Association, which is fighting the sale of the land, has obtained a copy of Mrs Chewett's will and says the trust is going against her wishes.

Patricia Kramer, of the association, said: "We understand the trust needs to raise some money but Mrs Chewett's wishes were that the field is enjoyed by the people of Bushey.

"Instead they are selling it to a commercial company with no altruistic motive. They are building this home purely for profit, and will run the street scene of Elstree Road into the ground."

Bushey Museum's 2004 annual report states that a letter of memoranda - a letter of wishes - was left by Eila Chewett along with her will.

In the letter, Mrs Chewett requested that the trustees of the museum honour her wishes as to the future use of the buildings and the site - that it be kept as "an assett for the enjoyment of the people of Bushey".

Though the request is not legally binding, members of the resident's association claim the requests raise questions about the decision of the property trust.

Howard Kramer said: "It is a question of morales and morality. They're ignoring Mrs Chewett's wishes, which she left as a memoranda in her will. They are selling to a profit orientated organisation and I wonder if the trustees realise that."

An online petition is being gathered by the residents' association, click here to visit the page.