Crystal Palace residents are risking their own money as they seek to take the Government to court over controversial plans to redevelop Crystal Palace Park.

The London Development Agency (LDA) first unveiled its masterplan for the park in 2007, and has faced opposition from Crystal Palace Community Association (CPCA), which objects to provisions within the plan to to build 180 flats on park land.

Communities and Local Government secretary Eric Pickles approved the plan in December, subject to amendments.

CPCA chairman John Payne said the group was seeking to challenge the decision in the High Court.

He said the amendments put the park at even greater risk and claimed developers were trying to push through the construction of the flats by tying them to the redevelopment of the National Sports Centre, located within the park.

He said: "Eric Pickles actually made it easier than ever to build on park land. The amendments relate to work on the National Sports Centre.

"It also raises the question, why does the National Sports Centre need work? We feared from the beginning that the National Sports Centre would be inextricably linked to the masterplan."

To fund the court action, CPCA is asking 10 members to pledge £500 each to provide surety towards adverse costs.

Mr Payne said: “We haven’t got our 10 yet, but we have had some major players in the wings promising help.”

These “major players” have asked to remain anonymous.

Mr Payne said the group would not rule out challenging the plan in the European courts if the High Court case fails. He said: “We could certainly be looking towards Europe, and it is something we have thought about.”

The LDA claimed the flats were necessary to fund the £41m redevelopment of the park, which includes a new sports centre and a tree canopy mimicking the original silhouette of the Crystal Palace.

A date has not yet been for the court case.