A STANFORD-le-Hope play area has finally been reopened to the public after a long battle by local councillors – but one of them has still questioned the integrity of the work carried out by contractors and the overall condition of an area where safety is supposed to be paramount.

The Balstonia Park swings, slides and roundabout area on the Homesteads estate was closed by Thurrock Council in April when it was declared to be unsafe.

Since then local councillors Gary Byrne and James Halden have been among those putting pressure on the council to bring the play area back into action.

Deadline after deadline was set by the council and missed – but finally, today (Friday, 6 August) contractors attended and completed repairs, putting in resin underneath a set of swings – though they left the scene after telling local children they could return to play and leaving the gates unlocked, with the material still not set.

Previously contractors had put down some wood chippings around some of the other play equipment, but they have done nothing about large burrow holes adjacent to the slide and swings, in which a child or adult could easily take a tumble and possibly turn or break an ankle or even a leg.

Cllr Byre said: "This has been a terrible saga of delay and incompetence and sadly it does not seem to be finished yet. It beggars belief how a job as simple as repairing some swings and some matting can take from April to August – and even then after four workmen have largely sat on their shovels this afternoon in conjunction with a manager, they have driven off, told kids it's all right to play and yet the play area is – in real terms – not barely any better than when they first started.

"Cllr Halden and I have worked really hard to try and get this sorted, fair play to Cllr Halden he has been as determined as I have been, but it seems the officers just aren't interested in responding to councillors' concerns nor looking after the safety of our children.

"It's such a shoddy job. No doubt now though, they will be chasing after me for speaking up and telling the truth!

Thurrock Council was asked for an urgent comment about the park and safety issues this afternoon, but has not yet responded.