A campaign group has responded to the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s (LVRPA) announcement last week that it will take bookings for a proposed campsite at its WaterWorks site.

Caroline Day, a member of Save Lea Marshes, has hit out at the authority’s proposed use of the land, which the group wants protected under its designated title of Metropolitan Open Land.

She says that closing the space it to the public would negatively affecting the quality it is most prized for – its openness.

The campsite is to be on the site of the out of use pitch and putt golf course, which is run by the LVRPA, but has not yet received the planning permission needed to become a campsite.

Ms Day said: “It’s disrespectful and contemptuous to advertise before the planning deadline.

“I think it’s morally wrong because they’re saying ‘we will have a campsite and it doesn’t matter what objections you make, we don’t feel the need to carry out a consultation with the public before we advertise that it’s open.’”

She said this was wrong coming from an authority that is meant to be a guardian of the land.

She added that the golf course is prized locally as being cheap, accessible and was well used by people from Waltham Forest and Hackney.

Lee Valley Regional Park Head of Planning and Strategic Partnerships, Stephen Wilkinson, said: “Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will be running a temporary campsite this summer to support the events taking place in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

“The WaterWorks Centre campsite will provide visitors with an affordable camping option and hopefully build on the success of the site we had for the London 2012 Games.

“We have applied for planning permission for the seasonal use of this land as a campsite which will involve tents and caravans (number 2013/0505).

“We propose that the site operates as a temporary campsite just for the summer months. This will be reviewed as part of our long term development plans for the Lea Bridge Road area.”

Until planning permission is granted the LVRPA is able to exercise a right that allows them to use the site for camping for no more than 28 days this year.