by Hayley Robinson

Parents are being warned not to let their children into a locked play area.

The park in Mulberry Way, on the Great Easthall estate, has been closed for health and safety reasons since September 14.

Swale council says a spring on the see-saw is damaged and as it is concreted into the ground a replacement is needed.

The open spaces team is in discussion with the manufacturer to organise a date for repairs to be carried out but until this is done the area is closed to the public.

Angry postings were written by people on the Facebook group The Gossip Board about the closure and the fact there are no signs telling them the reasons why.

One wrote: "Who had the bright idea of padlocking an under-12 kiddies’ play area at Mulberry Way, Easthall? I saw very young children crying because they didn’t understand why they couldn’t play.

"Is this just a show piece but not touch?"

Other postings revealed that despite the gate being locked older children are still climbing over the fence to access the area while one mum admitted to lifting her five-year-old over the gate so they could play.

Signage for the park is now being drawn up and will be erected at the site in the next few days.

A council spokesman said: "There is always a reason for restricting access and if a park is locked then parents should not lift children over the railings.

"While we appreciate frustration, the safety of park users has to be our primary concern.

"Signs are put up if street wardens have them available but we have found that typically they serve little purpose as people simply take down or remove the signage anyway.

"We have also had situations in the past where a particular piece of equipment has been cordoned off with ‘hazard’ tape and this has actually been removed.

"Therefore we lock the play park gate or gates where possible so that it acts as a physical deterrent to entering the park.

"The purpose of locking the park is to ensure that users are kept safe and not exposed to a risk of harm.

"Once people are within the park area, the likelihood they will attempt to use the damaged equipment increases."