ANOTHER family has spoken out against housing developers who leave play areas in a dangerous condition.

In last week's Journal a development called The Orchards, off Offenham Road, Evesham, was highlighted by a mum who feared children would be injured in an unfinished play area that had been fenced off.

Despite the fencing, children were still getting through and playing on the equipment.

Since then, Chris Davies, who lives in Persimmon Homes' Blossom Fields development, off Cheltenham Road, said they had a similar situation.

Mr Davies, his wife and two children, live opposite the play area which he says is hugely overgrown. At one point it was so bad you could not see the play equipment that had been installed around November last year.

He said: "The one issue is around the safety of the equipment itself as kids are now using it after opening pieces of the fencing. I very much doubt any of the equipment has been checked for safety but the other issue is that ground itself was never properly prepared, it was just seeded and left to grow, so goodness knows what you'll find in amongst all the weeds and just below the surface.

"The ground also backs onto Corn Mill Rd which is riddled with all sorts of litter, bits of metal, glass etc, within the line of bushes that makes up the back boundary of the play area.

"I saw a young boy the other day, not much older than five, squeezing under a section of fence to go and play with some older children using the equipment. Being school holidays, kids are finding things to do with their time and are often in there.

"I spoke to the site manager a number of months back and his intention was to have the play area open in August. No sign of that happening yet but it seems the developers mentioned in your article aren't the only ones cutting corners on play areas.

"There's plenty health and safety regulation in place on the houses themselves but none it would seem on children's play grounds."

Andy Peters, managing director at Persimmon Homes South Midlands said: “Site safety is extremely important to us and we work hard to ensure that our sites meet all of the required safety standards. In this particular case we have inspected the site today (Thursday) to investigate the damage to the fencing around the play area and can confirm that the recent damage will be repaired immediately.

“Development of the play area is underway and we anticipate that work will be complete shortly so that it can be enjoyed by the local community.”

Wychavon District Council, which granted planning permission for the site, said they would also make inquiries about the site but stressed the play area was the property of Persimmon Homes and that it was their responsibility to complete it or make it safe until it was completed.