Opposition to the planned redevelopment of hospitals in Watford and St Albans could delay the project by up to a decade, according to one councillor.

Plans to refresh the Watford General and St Albans City facilities have already been set in motion by the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

However the New Hospital Campaign group, which opposes the trust’s proposals, argues that building a new hospital on a greenfield site would be quicker, cheaper and more effective, and recently met with NHS Improvements chief executive Jim Mackey to put forward its case.

Cllr Nigel Bell, Labour group leader at Watford Borough Council, said exploring such alternatives at this stage was a waste of time.

“Land is available at Watford for the building to start by 2020, planning assumptions are agreed whereas any other site would require a massive lead in time on land acquisition, planning and a potential public enquiry. To build anywhere else but Watford would potentially delay the project for another decade,” he said.

“Services have already been configured with the intention of Watford being the district general hospital for the west Herts area. To change that after two decades of debate and planning would cause huge disruption to services.”

Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill implored people to help secure the funding needed to progress the project currently on the table.

“The bottom line is the general hospital will remain in Watford – the battle now is getting the finance for it,” she said.

“We should be lobbying the government for money, not bickering about a decision that has already been taken. We have been a decade waiting for this decision – there are plans but people aren’t seeing them at the moment.

“I think if we all get together behind this decision, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide world-class care not just in Watford but across the region.”

The mayor’s sentiments were echoed by Watford MP Richard Harrington, who added: “I am fully supportive of the hospital staff’s plans to redevelop Watford General and St Albans City hospitals, as well as the plans to upgrade the Hemel Hempstead Health and Wellbeing Centre.

“Plans are being drawn up as we speak and as soon as I have those I will be taking them straight to the Department for Health. I have been working closely with the trust on these plans and have already discussed them with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, particularly during his many visits to Watford General.”