THE owner of Wanstead Flats has moved to reassure the community over fears a firework display could cause lasting damage to an area used for a temporary police base.

A 35,000 sq ft area of the green space has recently been re-seeded after the controversial base erected for the Olympics left it muddy and without grass.

Newham Council was given permission by landowner the City of London Corporation to stage its annual fireworks event on the flats, which is expected to attract thousands of visitors on Sunday.

This raised fears that the land could be damaged further, with some park users slamming the decision to allow the event.

Campaigner Kevin Blowe, 43, said: "The flats need to be left alone and I just can’t believe it would be agreed to let thousands of people on the land.

"Whatever planting and reseeding has taken place will just get mushed up by the thousands of people who will trample all over the ground. We will just be back to square one.

"The whole thing is strange and incomprehensible."

Sarah Ruiz, 59, who lives near to the flats in Forest Gate and also campaigned against the base, said: "I was totally shocked to discover that the Flats were to be used for the Newham fireworks.

"The ground is far from restored and even further damage will be done by this event." 

But the Corporation has confirmed the public will be kept away from affected areas.

A spokesman said: "The fireworks display has been carefully managed by the City of London Corporation in conjunction with the London Borough of Newham.

"Spectators will be directed away from the area that is subject to renovation and fireworks will be launched from either side of the access road within the renovation site.

"The area is fenced off from the public – there is no threat to the zone that is undergoing restoration."

The Save Wanstead Flats Campaign fought an unsuccessful legal battle in the High Court to prevent the police base from being built.

More than 3,500 officers were based on the flats during the Olympics and Paralympics.

City of London Corporation received £170,000 compensation from the Metropolitan Police, which will be spent on redeveloping Jubilee Pond on Wanstead Flats.

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