A TIRED park needs to be revamped to give children a safe place to play, residents and councillors claim.

People living around the park in The Hatherley, Basildon, told the Echo it has been left to fall into a state of disrepair, meaning youngsters have nowhere to go.

The want Basildon Council to spend money installing new equipment, as the authority has already done elsewhere in the borough, and clearing away rubbish.

Barry Baker, 44, of The Hatherley, has raised his concerns with ward councillors.

He said: “The problem is that there is not enough play equipment or outdoor equipment for children to play on and enjoy themselves with.

“It feels like we have had things taken away from the park. I think there was a football goal in the park but that went quickly.

“I think it is a shame because the park is so big and so much could be done with this space.”

Caryn Joyner, 47, of The Gore, Basildon, used to live near the park and walked through it on a daily basis.

She said: “The park has become very rundown and I know people dump rubbish in the park. It is a shame because I know that other parents and families like to use the park.

“The park is just not kept as nice as it should be, I know that Mopies Park, Basildon has been revamped and people have just vandalised it.

“I think that parks should be locked after a certain time to keep them nice.”

David Sheppard, Ukip councillor for Fryerns, said he has received complaints from residents about the issues at the park.

He added: “The park is rundown and it needs a lot of attention.

“Mopies Park in Basildon was revamped and so I think that the same needs to be done with the park in The Hatherley.

“Residents have said they feel that children and young people have nowhere to go and enjoy themselves because of the state of the park.

“It is in desperate need of work, the play equipment is old and tired and it needs modernisation."

Kevin Blake, councillor responsible for parks and open spaces, said he was not aware of the issue.

He said: “There is a procedure for reporting issues like this and councillor Sheppard has not spoken to me about this.

“I am happy to sit down with residents and councillor Sheppard and discuss the issues if they want to come and see me about this.”

The Echo revealed last month £50,000 had been spent on new play equipment at Mopsies Park.

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: “The park is regularly cleaned and inspected to meet our health and cleanliness standards.

"With limited financial resources, the council has had to work on updates to the borough’s play areas according to greatest need for refurbishment.”