ANGRY parents in Chandler's Ford are calling on play area bosses to fix their children's park and end a nine-month ban on fun.

Youngsters at Knightwood Primary School have been turned away from their neighbouring playground in Bellflower Way after Test Valley Council health officials deemed it unsafe.

The play area lies opposite the school and is not only used by its pupils, but also by their younger siblings during the school run as

parents wait for their children.

But the lock and chains, and metal fences have surrounded the swings, slides, roundabout and climbing frames since last year's summer holiday.

Parents say it is time Test Valley Council and the company responsible for making the repairs got on with the job.

"It's ridiculous," said Wendy Dodd, a mother of two young children who live near the playground.

"It's right in front of them but they can't use it, and that's not fair.

"It's about time they got it sorted."

The group of angry parents and children were joined by Test Valley Borough councillors Alan Dowden, Craig Lewis and Jackie Shaw, who are leading the fight to get the playground up and running again.

Cllr Dowden, who is also chairman of North Baddesley Parish Council, said the playground had been closed for too long and action from the borough council and the contractors is long overdue.

"Test Valley have been negotiating with the contractors and various people but have never reached an agreement because it seems whenever things are getting somewhere a person involved will leave and the whole thing will be re-started."

"Now, I have become just as cheesed off as local residents and North Baddesley Parish Council are also frustrated."

Cllr Jackie Shaw, who is a mum with children near the play area, said, "I have been constantly contacting people, and although they have sent polite letters of reply, no decision has been made."

"Now we just want something done before the summer," she added.

Cllr Dowden has collected a petition with more than 160 individual signatures, from parents which he now intends to present to the council to show the demand for action.

A spokesman for Test Valley Council said: "The council is currently working with the developer who owns the site to agree suitable arrangements to make sure the play area meets the necessary safety standards."

"The priority is to have an area in which children can play safely, and once this has been achieved the council will be in a position to adopt the site and to maintain it in the future."

A spokesman for the play area contractors, George Wimpey Southern added: "The company is awaiting confirmation of remedial work to be done to the playground and will then attend to these works."