A CONCERNED mum says a community play area in the centre of a new development in Evesham is potentially dangerous for children because it hasn't been completed.

The open space at The Orchards and Abbey Vale, off Offenham Road, has been made into a play area with equipment such as a slide, see-saw, cradle swing and monkey bars for children and forms part of a housing development between housebuilders Barratt Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Bovis. But although the equipment is in place, the surrounding grassed area is overgrown and the whole site has been fenced off.

Jessica Ching, who has bought one of the new houses and lives there with her husband and two children aged three and six said she had got nowhere when trying to get in touch with the developers to ask them when they were going to make the site safe.

"The fencing was put around the play area to keep children out over a year ago but the equipment was there so of course they would manage to get in. I've seen children of all ages playing in there and some parents with children in pushchairs too. I would not let mine in there because I think it is too dangerous. Parts of the fencing are broken. There are bits of metal lying around and metal brackets on the ground.

"The houses have been finished for three months now so the park area should have been cleared up. When there was a report of broken glass found some workers came in and took a lot of top soil away and then put the fence back, but nothing else was done and it has got overgrown again and children are still getting in," said Mrs Ching.

"The park has been abandoned and I feel children's safety is at risk."

A spokesman for the consortium said, “We are liaising with Wychavon District Council regarding the various phases of the development off Offenham Road, Evesham, and will provide a number of open spaces and play areas as part of the completed development. We will look to open the play area in question as soon as possible.”