Waltham Forest Council is investigating after land intended for a Leyton “pocket park” was illegally fenced off.

Local artist Lucy Harrison tweeted earlier this week that “big ‘private property’ signs” had appeared around the future pocket park on Perth Road.

A council spokesperson confirmed that the Property Services team had been instructed to serve notice to remove the fencing.

They were so far unable to state who may have tried to claim ownership of the land, which is owned by Highways England.

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Lucy Harrison tweeted: “Perth Rd 'pocket park' shown on Enjoy Waltham Forest plans, that had a community noticeboard on, has recently been fenced off and big 'private property' signs put up.”

Age UK Waltham Forest added: “Area has been fenced off badly with a small alley left at the rear - resident confirmed already seen two passers by use it as a toilet!”

Last year, the council received £70,500 from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to create four new pocket parks across the borough.

Speaking when the funding was awarded in April last year, deputy leader Clyde Loakes said: “Pocket parks provide small areas of calm in our bustling borough, where anyone can take a few minutes to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings of grass, plants, and trees.

“We know that access to green spaces boosts people’s mental health and improves the quality of the air we breathe, helping to protect little lungs from the damage caused by air pollution.”

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