DISGRUNTLED residents are still waiting for children to be let lose on the playground at their new estate...more than a year after it should have opened.

Residents of the 170-home Bloor Homes Rowhedge Wharf development have criticised the developer for making promises it has not kept on infrastructure at the former port site.

Despite vows it would be open more than a year ago, the children’s playpark at the development remains fenced off to members of the public.

A dinghy park on the River Colne, promised as part of the infrastructure to support the new homes, is also not yet ready to be used by the public.

One resident of the new estate said: “We were promised that when we moved in in 2019 that this would be open.

“Since living here it has been fenced off.”

Ward councillors for the area Lee Scordis, Mike Lilley and Adam Fox have been pressing Bloor Homes for answers on the delayed opening of the facilities.

Mr Scordis said: “It is really disappointing to see a developer failing to meet their obligations yet again when it comes to providing services for new developments.

“The development itself is well-designed and we have no complaints there, but simple things, such as opening the dinghy slipway and opening a playpark, seem to be neglected ahead of building new homes.

“They have had all of lockdown to resolve the issues with the playpark and failed to deliver.”

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Mr Scordis said he would like to see Colchester Council step in if the playpark wasn’t ready to go soon.

He added: “I feel that it is time the council took legal action against Bloor Homes who are failing to meet their planning conditions.”

Bloor Homes blamed the delay on extra works which need to be completed before the playground opens to members of the public.

These works are set to be complete next month after which, it says, the park will finally open.

A spokesman said: “Bloor Homes had to undertake some additional works to allow for adequate access into the play park and will be replacing some of the planting.

“We understand that this work is to be completed by September and will be handed back to the management company shortly after.”

The wider Rowhedge Wharf development has also seen Hills Residential create 86 new homes as part of its King George’s Park estate on the site.