A developer has assured people living on a housing estate that a revamped children’s play area is almost complete.

Archers Park off Staplehurst Road, near Sonora Fields, has been without a place for children to play for weeks.

Changes needed to be made to the design, as parts of the park were not built in accordance with the plans, including a large mound that a slide runs down.

Cllr James Hunt (Con, The Meads) said on Facebook that landscaping works hadn’t been done as approved and fencing had been installed which wasn’t allowed either.

There were also changes to be made to the road layout at the entrance as well as the size of the mound.

A council spokesman said: “The council identified an issue with the developer’s plans for the play area at Archers Park, and these proposals were therefore revisited.

“Our greenspaces team, working in partnership with our planning team, the developer and local residents, has identified a new plan for the play area, ensuring it is safe and appropriate for the site.”

The park will be maintained by a private company, meaning residents will be paying for it, but this also gives them a say in what equipment is installed.

Chris Lilley, managing director for Redrow Homes (South East) said: “Providing new facilities as well as new homes is important and, in accordance with the planning consent for our Archers Park development, we’ve created a new play area for use by local children.

“Following feedback from residents, we worked with the local authority to alter some of the design of the play area and this has now been completed with approval of the local authority.

“As residents have previously been informed, the play area will be conveyed to a management company for regular upkeep, which is normal practice on new build developments.”

A council spokesman estimated the park would reopen in September.