A woman who has spent two-and-a-half years redeveloping her allotment to teach disabled children on is facing a stand-off with the council.

Shirin Ford, of Enfield Lock, gave the allotment she has had for four years a makeover in a bid to teach children with learning disabilities about wildlife.

Despite being set to open in September 2014 and adamant she had permission to redevelop the plot, in Newbury Avenue, Enfield Lock, she is now facing a stand-off with Enfield Borough Council after they told her the site was “not appropriate.”

Ms Ford said: “It’s heartbreaking that after all this hard work that myself and other volunteers have put in to get it ready to give enjoyment to disabled children, that we are being told it is not an appropriate site.

“I was told I could develop the site and I would not have done so if I had not if I had not been told I could.”

There have also been tensions between Ms Ford and other allotment holders, who raised complaints about her project.

Ms Ford said: “It is very sad to know there have been complaints made because all we are trying to do is give disabled children a unique opportunity they cannot have anywhere else. It is very upsetting that people would not want this to happen.”

However, Councillor Chris Bond, who is responsible for environment policy, claims Ms Ford was offered an alternative that she turned down.

He said: “We offered Ms Ford an alternative at Albany allotments and this would have fitted right in with the amazing work they are doing up there but she turned it down.

“The site she is currently on is not appropriate for what she wants to do but Albany Park is.”

Ms Ford said she did not want to step in on the project at Albany Park and wanted to have her own project.

She said: “They have done great work at Albany but this is my own project and something that will improve the area massively. There is a lot of tension in the area and something like this would have brought enjoyment to a lot of people.

“I will not give up my the fight on this, I have come this far and I am not prepared to throw in the towel.”