A borough parks boss is to be quizzed on the progress of a scheme to renovate a dilapidated playground in a township.

Overton ward's Cllr Colin McKenzie wants to know what is happening to a proposed upgrade of the Milton Street facility in Great Harwood locally known as Masefield Close play area.

He has tabled a question at Thursday's full meeting of Hyndburn Council to the authority's environment boss Cllr Steven Smithson.

It reads: "What is the current status of the refurbishment project at Milton Street play area in my Overton ward?"

Cllr McKenzie said: "It has now been over a year since I and the other Great Harwood councillors called for the refurbishment of this dilapidated playground.

“Masefield Close playground serves the large residential estates of Shakespeare Avenue and Wordsworth Drive.

Lancashire Telegraph: The old slide at Masefield Close playground

"However it is also the gateway to some popular country walks.

"A properly-equipped playground would serve residents from all over Great Harwood, and Hyndburn.

"Access must be a priority and we have asked for a new entrance off Wordsworth Drive.

"Local residents have called for adequate seating and complete resurfacing.

"One parent has said that in its current state she can't even move her child from one ride to another, since there are no paths.

"We have been told that £65,000 was set aside for this play area, but external funding was still needed.

"With money being spent in other parts of the borough, most notably in Accrington, what news do we have for the children of Great Harwood?

"In recent years we have lost our skate park, swimming pool and the playgrounds at Edge End and Railway Terrace. Now even the youth club has been sold off.

"Where is that money being spent?”

Fellow Overton ward Councillor Heather Anderson said: “Having raised four children on that estate I was excited to hear that the council had applied for funding to update the Masefield Close playground.

"We had a very promising meeting with a member of the parks department where we and local schoolchildren were invited to submit ideas about what facilities they would like to see there.

"I advocated strongly for at least one piece of inclusive equipment, particularly with wheelchair access.

"Disappointingly, after a great start, all progress seems to have come to a standstill.

“Unfortunately very few local parks have fully-accessible facilities with wheelchair access, so families are having to travel as far as Burnley and Preston.

"This is simply unacceptable.”