PARENTS have complained the new £178,000 play park in Newquay is still in a mess two months after opening.

Richard Curtis, who owns the adjacent Little Western Railway, says he receives daily complaints about the state of the landscaping at Trenance Play Park.

He alleges various parts of the park have not been built up to standard and other parts such as the picnic area have not been finished.

Mr Curtis has been in contact with Cornwall Council, the park owner, and Cormac, which was awarded the contract to install the new play park to try and get the issues rectified but alleges they are both “blaming each other.”

He said: “The play equipment is lovely, but the groundwork is shocking.

“The supposed topsoil that was used in the landscaping is full of rocks and stones that children keep throwing at each other.

“They have used grass seed instead of turf so there are numerous bare patches. I don’t know how they expected grass to grow when they are so many children playing there. The landscaping that has grown is mostly weeds.

“The fence that was installed two weeks ago was originally forgotten so they had to dig holes in the brand-new tarmac path and the holes have still not been filled in.

“The lack of edging materials means the original landscaping of sand, soil and gravel keeps washing down onto the safety flooring which will in time encourage weeds to grow amongst the play equipment. Tree roots are sticking out of the banks where the digger has cut through them.

“The area with the red fence has a slide on the plans which was to be reused from the old play area. Cormac came and took it away so there is now a soil mound for no reason in the main play area and the grass has failed to grow.

“There are still no picnic benches area for picnic area left overgrown.

“There is fencing closing off the area and two soil mounds have been added.

“One person at Cormac said it was done because they didn’t know what to do with left over soil.

“The area is where children used to play football and sunbathe.

“It is now a wasted space, plus the ride on lawnmower now can’t cut that area so it will have to be strimmed which will take longer. The old flooring has been reused and is uneven and full of weeds.

“Everyone is passing the blame. I spoke to Cornwall Council, and they said it was up to Cormac to sort out.

“Cormac have told me they didn’t realise they had to do anything other than tarmac the path. Honestly you can’t make it up how poorly run this project has been.

“Apart from the benches it would not cost a lot of money to fix.

“If this was my business I would be asking for a refund.

“You would normally have the mayor to open a revamped play park, but no one wants to put their name to it.

“I want this sorted as I’m being asked questions by people about it every day.

“It’s embarrassing. It’s a £178,000 project and it’s still not done.

“Cormac has more resources than anyone in Cornwall and it’s still not finished.”

Newquay central Cornwall councillor Joanna Kenny is investigating the issue. Cllr Kenny said: ‘It is disappointing to hear that the play park has not been finished off properly. I will take a look and go from there.”

Cornwall Council and Cormac have been contacted for comment.