Council killjoys order three-year-old to remove 'Charlie's Den' sign from woodland den

Council jobsworths ordered the family of a three-year-old to remove a "Charlie's Den" sign from a wooden fort because it "may deter others from playing at the location".

Charlie Smith's grandfather Alan, 60, built the den from sticks and branches in June 2020 for the toddler and his sister Molly, one.

The children and their friends visit the site on the side of Whitmoor Common during their daily walks.

But the family from Guildford, Surrey, say they received an email from Surrey County Council officers demanding they remove a wooden plank sign above the entrance which said "Charlie's Den".

Charlie's Grandmother Tina Smith, 56, said she was told that the sign had become a "point of contention".

In an email to Tina, The Countryside Land Protection Officer for Surrey County Council reportedly said: "It is clearly a 'man-made' product, despite the fact that it is predominantly made of wood, and it will not be allowed to remain on site.

"I suggest that you bring the sign with you for Charlie to play with when he is on site and remove it again when you leave.

"As has been suggested by some complainants, to leave it on site suggests a degree of ownership, which may deter others from playing at the location.”

The family said that Council members had since removed the signpost, along with decorations painted by the children.

But the den - which even has its own location marker on Google Maps - is still standing.

Charlie's family have now criticised the "petty" council over the decision.

Aunt Stephanie Smith, 24, said: "It's awful for him, every time he goes up there you don't know what to expect.

"He's more confused of why, you can't really explain to him he's only three, so he's just confused as to why they've been taken down.”

Admin assistant Stephanie, who lives close to her mum, sister and nephew, says that she and other residents feel the council should be tackling larger problems.

The family have previously clashed with the council when they put up decorations for celebrations throughout the year, including Halloween, Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day.

They were contacted by officials and asked to remove the handmade decorations from inside because they weren't biodegradable.

A spokesman for Surrey County Council said: "We really did not want to discourage young people from enjoying the great outdoors in this way.

"The den is great, and a perfect way to escape in imagination!

"But we must give warning if we need to remove any materials that are not natural to the surroundings, we would never dismantle the actual structure unless it posed a danger.

"Judging the structural integrity and wonderful craftsmanship of this example, we certainly won't be taking it down."