A historic levy is costing Sutton taxpayers £200,000 a year to fund a north London park more than 20 miles away.

Sutton Council is calling for an end to the precept, added to council tax bills across London ,that props up the Lee Valley Regional Park.

The local authority has started a cross-borough campaign called for the levy to be scrapped altogether so that south London boroughs can fund the local regional park instead.

Councillor Jayne McCoy, speaking at last week’s full council meeting, said more people from Northern Ireland have visited the park, which runs through north and east London, Essex and Hertfordshire, than Sutton residents.

She said: "We want the unfair legislation on this precept changed. When funds are tight it is hard to stomach handing over large sums of money to a distant park whilst we’re struggling to find the cash to support our own regional park in south London.

"The Lee Valley Park Authority owns 20 per cent of the Olympic Park in Stratford and has already received millions of pounds from the Olympic Delivery Authority.

"They will also be handed the Olympic hockey, tennis and cycling facilities and the long term funding they bring with them.

"We’re putting our money where our mouth is and will be investing the unexpected reduction in the levy into the Wandle Valley Regional Park.

"Croydon Council has confirmed it will do the same, and we hope Merton and Wandsworth will follow suit.

"If we can claw back the full £1.2m the four councils pay towards Lee Valley every year it means jobs and growth where it’s needed most."

The annual levy has been reduced by two per cent, and Sutton Council has pledged to spend the money saved on the Wandle Valley park.