HOPES that a Prudhoe play park could be reinstated have been called into question following a disagreement with landowners.

Castlefields play park was destroyed in November last year when contractors from landowner Bellway Homes tore out the equipment.

Bellway said it had fulfilled its obligation to establish the play area, which was meant to have been adopted by what was then Tynedale District Council.

Following local government reorganisation, Northumberland County Council has not adopted any open space and the landowner said the equipment was now considered unsafe.

But after a backlash from residents, both Bellway Homes and the second developer, Persimmon Homes, offered £10,000 to reinstate the play park, on condition that Prudhoe Town Council adopt the facility.

However councillors say the developers have now amended their offer to also transfer the land surrounding the park to Prudhoe Town Council.

At a meeting of the council on Wednesday night, chairman Coun. Gerry Price said: “The area will be expensive to run and it will be of no advantage to the town council.

“There is no activity there now and we are no longer able to move forward due to the way they have altered their proposal.”

Councillors agreed that they would not take on the additional land. They plan to write to Northumberland County Council and the directors of the two developers to express their concerns.

A spokeswoman for Bellway Homes said: "In April we made a joint offer with Persimmon to the council that they would adopt the playground and the public open space

“This offer was accepted, on the proviso that the council provide new playground equipment.

“Since accepting this offer, the council have further requested that we provide the agreed monetary sum, but also furnish the playground with new equipment. As the agreed sum is more than sufficient, and as the town planners have agreed that we have fulfilled our obligation, we are seeking to uphold the original agreed offer. To this point we still await an answer from the town council."

Persimmon Homes was unavailable for comment.