Opposition is mounting as a major housing developer backtracked on its promise to build a play area on a Workington estate.

When Persimmon Homes was given the go-ahead to build Forgehill Park, off Mossbay Road, one of the conditions laid down by Allerdale council was for it to create a play area.

Now it has applied to remove that condition because, it said, there was no room.

Residents of the 92-home estate say they are outraged by the company’s plans. Natalie Jackson, of Railbank Drive, who has a two-year-old son, said: “I don’t know how they can sell a house saying there will be a play area and not do it.

“It’s like selling me a house as having three bedrooms and then finding out it only has two. Children are playing outside and our car has been damaged a few times, but we can’t be angry at the children because there’s nowhere for them to go.”

Persimmon Homes is offering to give money to support the development of an alternative play area, in lieu of the removal of the condition.

Alison Redmond, 39, of Railbank Drive, has a seven-year-old son.

She said: “I want my children to be outside to play, not in front of the Xbox. We’ve heard the plan is for the park to be in the new Corus development or somewhere over the road.

“That’s no good. Everything is good when they want the money for the house, the play area was part of the sales pitch.”

Workington Town Council has objected to the application, saying the play area was necessary.

Robin Ford, 39, of Sea View, said: “Hopefully, with the town council objecting, we’ll have a chance.”

Twenty-two letters of objection from residents have already been sent to Allerdale council. Gordon Henry, who lives on the development, went door-to-door to ask residents to express their views to the council.

He said: “Persimmon should not be allowed to walk away from its commitment, nor can Allerdale, as a planning authority, be allowed to avoid questions as to why the planning condition was not enforced. The site is bounded on one side by the railway line and on the other side by Mossbay Road.

“If the play area goes to the other side of the railway or Mossbay Road, this is not an accessible facility to reach on foot safely.”

Allerdale council said it was aware of the breach and has been pushing them to resolve the matter for almost a year.

A council spokesman said: “We have been discussing various options, on-site and off-site play provision, or, alternatively, investment to develop existing play facilities.

“Despite these discussions, Persimmon has chosen to submit a planning application which solely asks for removal of the condition relating to play equipment.

“We know there are strong feelings from residents so we will be giving substantial weight to their views before any decision is made.

“We want a meeting with Persimmon to discuss the results of the consultation and give them the options for the next steps.”