Tendring Council has more than £600,000 earmarked for play areas sitting unspent in its coffers.

The authority could be forced to hand the money back to developers if it is not spent.

Pierre Oxley, opposition councillor and formerly responsible for leisure, called it “criminal”.

Tendring First member Mr Oxley said when he was in office he held weekly meetings to make sure the money was being used.

He said: “It is criminal this money is in the bank and they are not funding new schemes.”

The money is being held following agreements with developers, who have donated the funds after planning permission has been gained.

Mr Oxley said the biggest contribution was for a play area at Cranleigh Close, Clacton. The council was given a parcel of land and £104,000 to develop the site, but nothing has been done. Nigel Brown, Tendring Council’s communications manager, confirmed there is more than £600,000 from the agreements set to be spent on play areas and open spaces.

He said: “Projects are being worked on for the future for the remainder of the money.

“The £600,000 plus is all ring fenced and cannot be spent on anything else.”

Clacton has the biggest pot of £311,525, closely followed by Harwich, which has £212,597. In the Frinton and Walton area there is £59,570 sitting in the bank and more than £12,000 unused for open space in Alresford.