A COMMUNITY facility has been slashed in size since being taken over by developers, claim campaigners.

The "multi-purpose building" is set to incorporate a nursery, sports changing rooms and a park ranger's office and is earmarked for part of the controversial Deptford Park development.

Originally planning permission was granted for a 400sq m sports pavilion in early 2002 after the Football Foundation gave Lewisham Council £230,000 in funding.

But campaigners say the building was put on hold when London & Quadrant (L&Q) approached the council about building 37 affordable homes on the park site.

Two-and-a-half years later plans for the facility were submitted to the council and now the views of resident are being sought in a consultation.

Dan Griffin of the Save Deptford Park group said: "It looks to us like L&Q have used the benefit of this facility to help justify taking some of the park.

"But the reality is this scheme was already funded and planned."

The group has criticised the size of the new building, which will now be part funded by L&Q, after it was cut from the original 400sq m to 236sq m.

It says this has been done to preserve the size of the housing development's car park.

Lewisham Council is to sell part of Deptford Park to L&Q to build the 37 home, four-storey development and gave the firm permission in May of last year.

The council has said the development is in part of the park "least likely to appeal to park users". However, Mr Griffin says systematic neglect of the area in question has seen it isolated from the majority of the park to justify the council's decision.

The council refutes the claim of neglect and says planned use of the facilities has not changed in the new plans.

A spokesman says an official three week consultation period on the plans ends on February 16. No date has been set for the matter to be considered by the planning committee.

L&Q: No meeting

LONDON & Quadrant (L&Q), the developers behind the Deptford Park plans, are refusing to meet with opposition councillors.

The group, which is a partner of Lewisham Council, has repeatedly avoided requests by the 13 Liberal Democrat, Socialist, Conservative and independent councillors to discuss the development plans.

Councillor Chris Flood of the Socialist Party, said: "We're concerned about this setting a precedent but they say they don't see the point of meeting."

L&Q said it will meet ward councillors, MPs and campaigners but not opposition councillors.

A spokesman said: "It would be unproductive to become more involved bearing in mind the apparent immovable position of the residents' representatives."