by Hayley Robinson

Swale council has responded to criticism of its new Milton Creek Country Park.

Mum Charlotte Raymond had attacked a decision by designers to have a three-foot-deep trench next to children’s play equipment

The 24-year-old says she worries a child could drown if the ditch filled with water.

But the council’s project officer, Frances Wallis, says the idea was to create a "natural play" area and safety bosses have given it the all clear.

Miss Raymond’s concerns were increased as a bridge running across the ditch has no handrails.

The Austin Close resident visited the site with her 18-month-old son Zac and her partner’s seven-year-old daughter Lauren.

She said: "It’s so dangerous. I had to keep stopping Zac from going over to it. I was so worried about him falling in. We weren’t the only ones. Other mums were running around after their children trying to keep them from going in it."

Zac and Lauren’s grandmother, Debbie Edwards, said: "It’s very nice and they’ve put a lot of thought and effort into it but I wish they had thought a little bit more for the safety of very young children.

"Lauren went down it and struggled to get back out."

In response, Ms Wallis said officers would continue to review the site, but explained the play area was designed to fit in with the environment.

She said: "Following consultation, it was agreed that a ‘natural play’ area should be designed for the site.

"Natural play encourages children to make good use of a varied natural landscape and to explore and investigate the natural world.

"The ditch around the slide and swing area will have vegetation and water in at certain times of year. However, in this first year, due to the drought, plants have struggled to grow and establish.

"The site did have a post-installation inspection carried out by the children’s play advisory service in May, and we couldn’t open the play area until it had passed this inspection, which it did."