Play area cordoned off in Murrills Road in Ipswich

The play area, at Murrills Road in the Warren Heath area of Ipswich, has a number of equipment reaching the end of its life, leaving it to be fenced off.

Julie Stout, a grandparent in the area, said: "We have children and grandchildren that can't go to the park.

"I've got dogs so I often walk around there and there's a lot of people I see with their children getting disappointed because there isn't a lot for them to play on.

One of the pieces of equipment fenced off (Image: Julie Stout) Julie Stout has raised an issue with the play equipment (Image: Julie Stout)

"Our nearest play area is a drive away.

"It's gradually getting worse; it was bad at the tail end of last year.

"I was hoping it would all get sorted for Easter holidays but that didn't happen and now we are almost in the summer holidays and the children have nothing to play on."

One of the pieces of equipment fenced off (Image: Julie Stout) The zip wire is also reaching the end of its life (Image: Julie Stout)

Mark Packard, East Suffolk councillor for Purdis Farm and Martlesham, said: "The play area was refurbished in 2022, but not all of the equipment was renewed.

"Some of it was fenced off, the equipment that was deemed maintainable at the time, but this is now considered end of life, so is fenced off.

"We heard in the last few days that the zip wire had to be replaced as well.

East Suffolk councillor Mark Packard (Image: East Suffolk Council) A number of pieces of equipment have been fenced off or are broken (Image: Julie Stout)

"Cabinet member councillor Sarah Whitelock and I are on the case. We're getting weekly updates and we will try and get it fixed as soon as possible but it is obviously disappointing with the holidays coming up.

"It's all about contractors now and they're all busy because of the summer holidays but we are on the case and hope to have things sorted as soon as possible."