A POPULAR play park which had to close after falling into disrepair will be brought back into use thanks to an investment.

The playground at Prudhoe Waterworld has been closed for several weeks after failing a safety inspection.

But now Northumberland County Council, which owns the land and leases it to Active Northumberland to manage, is planning to improve the playground which will to allow it to reopen to the public.

County Councillor for Prudhoe South, Gordon Stewart, said the park had suffered from a lack of investment, and had frequently fallen victim to vandalism.

“The last few years it’s been decaying as it’s been lacking investment,” he said. “I think it’s a great attribute for the town and I’m delighted that tens of thousands of pounds has been pledged to bring it back into use.”

He hoped the work would be completed by the end of the year, but said unfortunately it would be too late for it to be completed during the summer holidays.

At the last meeting of Prudhoe Town Council, councillors said that with full details they would consider taking over the control and care of the playground after the work on it had completed.

The council agreed to discuss the issue with Active Northumberland.

Coun. Stewart said the improved play area would be popular with the community.

“Prudhoe is booming and good or bad weather, people visit and people go to Waterworld,” he said. “I think it’s only becoming more popular with local people but people are travelling into the town too.

“Waterworld is a great place for the public and the playground is very centrally located.

“When it’s finished I think it will be a great place for the public to sit outside and have a refreshment, and also if there’s queues at Waterworld, which there sometimes is, it’s also a nice place to wait outside.”