My name is Gerry Tissier and I live in a friendly neighbourhood in East London. Over the last four years, a group of us have built a community garden in an abandoned car park near our local park.

The Daubeney Garden provides an oasis of calm in a densely built up area less than 100 yards from a primary school. It is walled by a beautiful ‘greenhouse’ mural made 38 years ago, painted with tropical birds and inlaid with mosaics. Our garden nestles next to shrubland at the entrance to a nature conservation site.

The Daubeney Garden brings people together from across a diverse community to grow food, meet up and chat.  People of different nationalities; children and pensioners; those with jobs and those who have no work.

Last year, Hackney Council announced plans to build 11 houses on the car park. We drew up an alternative proposal to create a small housing block, convert disused garages into workshops, and expand our growing space. Over 665 people signed a petition asking the council to develop the site as a hub for the local community. But the council refused to consider it.

During the statutory consultation, 33 people objected to the council’s plans. They said that the development would destroy the garden and heritage mural, overlook neighbouring homes, affect their privacy and put children’s safety at risk.  The only local support for the application came from our three local councillors.  Yet, despite overwhelming opposition, the council’s planning sub-committee approved the building application earlier this month.

Creating mixed-used developments to promote healthy communities is a core national planning principle. Planning committees should give this due regard when hearing any application. They should also consider objections to council developments raised by affected communities in a fair and unbiased way, alongside support from fellow councillors.

The law around planning is complex. The dice is loaded against individuals who lack expertise, time and money to challenge decisions. Councils steam-roller developments through against the needs and wishes of local people. The result is that loved spaces are taken away and communities lose out.

A successful legal challenge to this planning decision would have national implications. It would make it much harder for authorities everywhere to ignore the views of local people. And it would make sure they implement national planning policy for the benefit of the communities they serve.

I want to make a stand. I’ve found a solicitor willing to look at whether we have a strong enough case to take to court. I need to raise £1300 quickly to cover the costs of this work. To do this I need your help. Please give your support.