THE future of plans to build a police base on Wanstead Flats during the Olympics has been put in the hands of MPs.

Because the Flats are part of Epping Forest, the Metropolitan Police need a legislative reform order (LRO) to temporarily change the law that prevents any building on the protected land.

Residents fear the move would set a dangerous precedent for future development of the Flats, and say not enough is known about which other sites were considered.

Last Thursday (January 20) police minister Nick Herbert presented an outline of the LRO to Parliament, ahead of a vote on the full document later this year.

Criticism has also been levelled at the £170,000 fee the police will pay the Corporation of London – who manage Epping Forest – and opponents fear public opinion about spending the cash will be ignored.

Baroness Neville-Jones, security and counter-terrorism minister, said: “London 2012 poses a unique policing challenge.

“There is no intention to make this permanent, it is important that this well-loved space is preserved for future use.”

Despite apparent widespread opposition to the plans, just 31 responses were received.

The Home Office's consultation on the LRO is separate to the police's consultation about the plan as a whole.