Wolverhampton West Park's play area is shut for revamp during holidays

The 12-week closure means youngsters in the area will have to find somewhere else to play over the school half-term holiday and a large part of the long summer break – its busiest time.

The move has sparked anger from councillors and families. Councillor Mike Hardacre, who covers the Park Ward area of the city, said: "How could we be closing the children's play area in West Park from the May 16 through to mid-August?

"This will include the school half term and potentially three or four weeks of the school summer holiday. This will be peak usage time for our children. Surely this refurbishment could have been planned for later in the financial year. There are few enough public facilities in Park Ward without the council shutting down such an important play facility as this at peak usage time."

Nearby resident Margaret Clark, aged 60, of Finchfield, said: "I think it's ludicrous, I really do. I have two grandchildren, aged four and six, and I regularly take them over to the play area to let off some steam, as I did with my own children.

Vital

"I'm just concerned for the young mums looking to bring their children to the play area, as it's one of the only free things you can do in the city and now it's going to be taken away.

"I just don't understand why they've decided to do it now. If it was that vital, it should have been organised to take place in April so that its ready for the summer holidays, not taking place directly through them."

Councillor Hardacre called on council chiefs to reconsider this decision and move the refurbishment to a time that will affect fewer people. Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for the environment, said: "The park's play area will be undergoing a complete and total make over and we think this is a positive step for the city."

A council spokesman added: "The outdated play area at West Park is being completely overhauled with brand new equipment being installed and some of the older equipment being fully refurbished. This will create a much-improved facility for the city's premier park. Due to the excavation works and the laying of new safety surfacing our contractors need to complete the job during the drier weather. The rest of the park remains unaffected and there are alternative play areas in close proximity."For a project of this scale we hope people will understand some disruption is inevitable but that the end result will be worth it."