A play area in a large, popular park in Bradford is at the centre of a heated argument over its closure.

Residents are “up in arms” over plans to shut down the play area, and are locked in an ongoing battle with the council.

The children’s playground, near Bolton Road in Peel Park, may be set for permanent closure due to “boggy ground and repeated vandalism” of the equipment.

A large piece of equipment within the play area has had to be removed due to structural problems, and it is understood that the council will not replace any equipment.

The news comes as the ‘Friends of Peel Park’ group arranged a get together last week of local residents, who formed a human chain around the play area in protest.

The group had meetings with council officials on several occasions and have said that the council are adamant that the play area should go.

Concerns over a shrinking budget for repairs are among the reasons given for the play area’s closure.

Jane Lees, the CEO of Communityworks on Undercliffe Lane, said: “The Friends of Peel Park have offered to try to secure external funding to replace the empty neglected space, which is the only play area anywhere near the Bolton Road and Ashfield Estate.

“Parents with small children simply cannot walk all the way to the Cliffe Road play area at the other end of the park.”

A petition has already gathered over 500 signatures to save the play area, which has served local families for 30 years.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: “The play area at the Bolton Road end of Peel Park has become unsustainable due to the boggy ground and repeated vandalism of the equipment.

“The most sensible and cost-effective solution is to consolidate all the equipment into one play area which is overlooked by houses and less likely to suffer repeated vandalism and is on more solid ground.

“It will mean some families having to walk further but we believe that the solution we have chosen will offer the best way forward for everyone.

“All petitions submitted to the Council will be considered very carefully in accordance with our guidelines.”

The ‘Friends of Peel Park’ group have said that the play area has been “neglected” by Bradford Council for at least two years.

Councillor Ian Greenwood (Lab, Bolton and Undercliffe) said: “I’ve written to the authority to speak to officers regarding the play area.

“The bottom and the top of the park serve two different communities. I’m not happy about the closure of the play area at the bottom.”

He added: “I recognise that the Council is under pressure caused by the government, I am awaiting a meeting with officers to make representation to keep the area open.

“It’s a facility which provides a service to a community and needs to stay open.”

The petition will be formally presented to the council in late July.