Users of a popular countryside reservoir have called for open debates on its future.

Aldenham Reservoir, which backs onto Aldenham Country Park, in Dagger Lane, Elstree, is leased to Hertfordshire County Council – but that lease is due to expire in September and will not be renewed.

Once the lease expires, control will revert back to land owners Safari Investments.

However, in December, property developers Liberty Aldenham stated they would seek to support improvements to the reservoir - should they recieve planning permission to build in Centenial Park.

The reservoir is used almost every day by the Verulam Angling Club and Aldenham Sailing Club, who would be without a home if it were to close.

Sailing club member Jim Strother, 57, said: “It would be a disaster. We absolutely don’t want this place to disappear into thin air.

“We would be so devastated. The club has been here for 75 years and we want to carry on sailing for 75 more years, and the rest.

“There is no other reservoir for miles, so we’d have to close.”

Fellow member Les Smith, 65, said: “We’d be losing a whole culture, and people who have to drive 30 miles up the wrong way to get to the nearest sailing club.

“We don’t want the reservoir to fall into disrepair.”

Verulam Angling Club has a licence with Safari Investments which is renewed each year, but the club is now reluctant to invest its own money into the reservoir, as they have done previously.

Barry Killinger, 60, said: “We’d like to have a future in Aldenham otherwise we don’t know where we’ll end up. We are in limbo, there’s no doubt about that, and it would be nice to move forward.”

The reservoir helps attract people to Aldenham Country Park as it sits directly opposite the park.

Olivier Behzadi, who runs the country park, said: “The reservoir helps increase footfall and brings people in to us and if it were to go, we’re worried we’d lose customers.

“Our concern is about how ruthless people can be. We don’t want to pre-empt the outcome but feel it needs to be discussed – we can’t ignore the possibility that our wonderful reservoir could be drained.”

In a statement, Hertfordshire County Council said: “We have responsibilities as lease holder of Aldenham Reservoir until 2015.

“After that time these responsibilities will transfer to the landowners and it will be for them to decide on its future.”

Safari Investments did not reply to requests for a comment.