Children are without a play area for a second successive summer despite persistent pleas for it to be repaired and reopened.

The equipment in Baker Crescent in Dartford was fenced off by developer Crest Nicholson in April last year.

Residents say their park has been left to deteriorate since the housing was built almost 20 years ago.

Their efforts to get it renovated and reopened have been met with a wall of silence from the developer, they add.

They have vowed to continue fighting and want Dartford council to hold Crest Nicholson to account as they believe it has a duty to provide the facility as set out in the original plans.

The developer has apologised for the delay and says extra work is needed to replace damaged equipment.

Mum-of-two Yasmin Jackson said: “Dartford council needs to push Crest and make an example of them so they don’t do this to anyone else. Otherwise, it will just keep going on and on in different areas.”

The 39-year-old added: “They build the houses and add the park, just to tick the box, then just leave it to get in a state. The council needs to push them and show them they cannot get away with it.”

West Hill resident Garry Turner said: “I can’t believe we are here again to raise awareness that this park is still closed.

“Under section 106 developers Crest Nicholson have an obligation to the residents to keep this park maintained and fit for purpose and I can’t believe we are still here 15 months on trying to challenge them.

“I don’t understand how they are allowed to get away with kicking this can down the road again and again.”

The park, which includes an area for kicking a ball, swings, a see-saw, a roundabout and slides, was shut last year after becoming increasingly run-down.

In the past few years, parents have cut the grass, emptied the bins and even washed mould off the equipment to allow their children to use it.

Louise Bonello was the first to buy a house on the development and said she was excited to hear she would be living across the road from a park.

Although her children are older now and were able to enjoy it when they were little, she said she had to go armed with a sponge and water because the equipment was always so uncared for.

She said, although they are slightly older, her sons would still like to use the park.

“They want to play football and meet their friends. It’s such a shame.”

She added: “Crest have had so much time to fix the park and they have done nothing about it.

“They are quite happy to take our money when they build the houses but they are not solving the problem with the park.

“We have a park which has been inaccessible to our children - it’s disgraceful.”

Security fences were put up 15 months ago with a promise dangerous, broken equipment would be mended.

But since then residents say nothing has been done and they fear it is going to be left by the developers in the hope they give up the fight.

In the absence of a safe place to play, Kimberley Williams says many children have been congregating in the car park near her flats and she fears there will be an accident.

“Cars drive so fast into the car park and they are not looking out for children. It’s so dangerous.”

Local Dartford councillor and lead member for parks Drew Swinerd is furious the issues have still not been fixed.

“It is now 15 months since Crest Nicholson closed the play area and they have been unable or unwilling to repair the play equipment,” he said.

“The delay is incomprehensible. Crest Nicholson agreed to build and maintain a play area in return for planning permission in 2005.

“They will have profited handsomely from building the Baker Crescent development, but now they seemingly do not want to spend the money they agreed to on the play area.

“They are clearly breaking that agreement and they must adhere to it.”

A petition has been set up in a bid to put pressure on the developers to get the park open again. Click on this link to sign it.

A Crest Nicholson spokesman said: “We apologise for the delay in the reopening of the play area. Additional works were required to replace equipment which was damaged.

“Following inspections of the works, we have decided to replace additional equipment to ensure the play area is of the highest quality and future disruptions are minimised.

“These replacement works are under way and we are committed to their completion and fully reopening the play area for the community’s enjoyment.”

Dartford council said its planning enforcement team is liaising with Crest Nicholson to ensure the new play equipment is completed and made available for public use as soon as possible.