A PLAY park which has been closed for months is expected to be shut for the foreseeable future, because major work needs to be carried out to make it safe after a drain collapsed.

As previously reported in The Gazette, residents said that the children’s park, in Oakridge Road, Oakridge, has been shut since earlier this year.

Councillor Simon Bound, cabinet member for communities and community safety at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, has now revealed that much of the park needs to be replaced following the damage.

He added: “The Oakridge Road playground has been closed because of a collapsed drain which has caused ground subsidence and damaged some of the play equipment.

“Full investigations have taken place to assess the extent of the damage and we are now clear the whole of the area affected will need to be dug out and the earth replaced.

“In the meantime, the junior play area section of the park has been assessed as safe and has been reopened while work takes place to look at options to build a new replacement play area are on the site. We will be working with local residents to get their views on how this new play area could look.

“We apologise to residents for the inconvenience the closure of this park has caused but the health and safety of those people using the play equipment has been our priority.

“I would like to reassure residents that we are working with partners to find a positive solution to this unfortunate issue.”