LITTLE Scarlett Cox looks crestfallen after being "evicted" from her Wendy House by the council.
The five-year-old was given the splendid-looking house for her last birthday – but a "pathetic" decision by planning officers means she can no longer have the den in the garden of her home in Auckland Road, Caterham, which is communal and owned by Tandridge District Council.
Mother Nicola received a letter from the council last month saying that the Wendy House and a trampoline must be removed from the garden by July 10 on health and safety grounds.
Miss Cox told the Mirror: "It just seems so pathetic and petty. We bought it as a surprise present for Scarlett's fifth birthday last year.
"We fitted it out with carpets and curtains, and painted it in bright colours.
"Scarlett was so excited when she first saw it – she almost cried with joy.
"She would sit with her friends in her new house after school, and have her dinner in there."
She said her neighbours' kids used to love playing in the garden too. There were also swings and slides out there until they were removed in spring.
She added: "We're all being told we should get kids active and out in the fresh air, yet their play equipment is being taken away.
"We four neighbours suggested to the council we could draw up a legal document saying we would exclude the council from any responsibility if there were any injuries, but they don't seem to want to know."
Scarlett simply said: "I feel really sad it's going. It was my birthday present."
A spokeswoman for Tandridge District Council said: "The trampoline and Wendy House have been placed on land which is owned by the council and should be available to all leaseholders to use.
"We have not given permission for the land to be used in this way and we cannot risk anyone being injured on the land.
"We would not consider a joint waiver because it would still be our land and our responsibility and open to anyone to use, which means we would be liable for any health and safety issues."
