Mother’s fury after housing agency orders her to remove her 12foot paddling pool from the communal garden and also tells her she can’t hold her wedding reception there

A mother-of-two has said her family has been banned from having fun – after she was told she would no longer be allowed to have a 3.5m paddling pool in a communal garden outside her housing association home.

Chelsea Davidson, 38, is frustrated after she was also told to cancel her wedding reception, which was planned for the community room in Walderslade, Kent.

Despite already paying £200 for a buffet for the event, Mrs Davidson was recently told by her housing association to find a new venue.

MHS Homes said her wading pool – which she had installed every summer for the past decade without any problems – must now go.

Mrs Davidson, who has lived in the flats since 2009, was warned that her swimming pool was in breach of her lease agreement.

Chelsea Davidson, 38, is frustrated after she was also told to cancel her wedding reception, which was planned to be held in the communal area of ​​her housing association flat in Walderslade, Kent.

Mrs Davidson, pictured, has already been forced to remove her large swimming pool, which she had placed in the communal garden

MHS Homes said swimming pools, trampolines and barbecues are not allowed in communal areas as they pose a health and safety risk

She said the pool has been coming up every year between March and September for about a decade.

She said: ‘We have nothing for the children in this area. All we ever get is during the holidays and you may have the occasional club at school but nowhere for teenagers to socialize.

‘The children love playing together. When they’re not playing outside in the pool or football, they’re destroying my kitchen and baking cakes and sandwiches.

‘It’s what we do: we like to have fun. We have had barbecues, birthday parties and even small wedding parties in the garden over the years.

“But now we’re not allowed to have barbecues, we’re not allowed to have fun and it’s not allowed to be a community garden.”

During a recent phone call, Ms Davidson was also told she would not be able to hold her wedding reception in the garden when she marries her 19-year-old partner, Bob Gartward, in August – despite having already hired Gillingham Street Angels for a buffet. .

“The plans went out the window thanks to MHS,” Chelsea said. “It took so long to make plans because of lack of funds.

“Everyone here is invited, we’re like a family, so I don’t see what the problem is.”

Ms Davidson received a letter from MHS Homes confirming matters discussed on the phone earlier this month, stating that the family pool is ‘prohibited in communal areas’ and ‘is contrary’ to the tenancy management policy.

It said an investigation would be launched which could jeopardize her lease if she did not remove the swimming pool and other children’s toys or personal items from the communal garden.

Ms Davidson has removed the pool but has now started a petition, signed by 18 fellow residents of the balcony area where she lives, and plans to put it back up in the coming days.

A spokesperson for MHS Homes emphasized that the health and safety of its customers is its “top priority.”

He added: ‘Communal areas are a great way to bring residents together and build a sense of community, but we also have a responsibility to keep people safe in these areas.

‘We understood that one of our clients wanted to celebrate their wedding reception in the communal area.

‘However, as part of their tenancy agreement we ask people not to use these areas for barbecues, which could potentially pose a fire hazard, or for large family swimming pools or trampolines, which also pose a health and safety risk.

“This is an important part of keeping people safe.”