CONSERVATIONISTS have called on the council not to turn a newly acquired nature spot into a “theme park”.

Residents in Woodford Bridge and Barkingside were delighted last month when the historic Claybury Park was finally handed over to Redbridge Council from a property developer after years of legal wrangling.

But now campaigners have expressed their hope that cash tied to the transfer will be spent wisely by the council.

The authority has already said it intends to build a children's play area in the park, while it has also acquired a £1million dowry to spend on maintenance.

Campaigner Doreen Hewitt, of the Barkingside 21 group, said: “Fairlop Waters is being turned into a theme park for families which I don't think would be appropriate here, this is more of a country park, and it's got so much history to it.

“I hope when the council build a new play area for children here they will be very careful where they situate it. The park needs to be kept natural.”

Chris Gannaway, who worked as a warden in the park for the London Wildlife Trust in the late 1980s when it was owned by the local health authority, said he hoped the character of the park would be maintained.

He said: “The most important thing now is to manage the space correctly.”

Cllr Harold Moth, who walks his dog Honey in the park on a regular basis, said the council's ownership of the land would bring benefits.

He said: “Now we can introduce by-laws to the park and have the parks police help protect it. One of the main problems we do have here is people on motorbikes using the park as a race track.”

However it has since emerged that an additional newly acquired £90,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the park has already been spent by the council.

A spokeswoman said it had been allocated for “raising appreciation of London’s woodlands and increase public benefit and participation in woodland events and activities.”