Residents opposed to a new play park near their homes in Longtown have spoken about their opposition, saying youngsters have “plagued” them with “rocks and rubbish”.

People living in Oak Avenue, part of The Oaks estate, say they have had “nothing but bother” from children – and are against moves for a new play area.

But the development is also home to a number of families – who bought their properties with the understanding there would be play provision on site.

Carlisle City Council says one of the original planning permission requirements, in 2007, was for a play set-up on site.

Sharon Townsley, 44, who lives with her husband Adam, 54, in Oak Avenue, near to the proposed play park site, said: “We have had nothing but bother from local children and the police are called here on a regular basis.

“Last year these children plagued us with rocks, rubbish; they climbed fences, cars, broke trees and then had stone-throwing battles with [other] children.”

She said this happened in a nearby games area.

“We had to call the police all the time,” she said.

“They never had an adult with them and if you asked them to stop you got a mouthful of abuse.

“We have had so much bother that even the police don’t want it to be a park.”

Her neighbour, Denise Hodgson, agreed, saying she thought a play area would only exacerbate the problem.

She added that the area was unsuitable – with access being down a private road with no pavement or street lights.

Mrs Hodgson said any play equipment installed on the original site would end up being about 10 metres away from their front windows.

Mrs Townsley insists there are plenty of places for children to play elsewhere in the town, including a BMX track and a multi-use games area, play park and field at Longtown Primary School.

“I realise they were sold houses with plans for a play park.

“But they changed it to bungalows and we were sold bungalows, retirement and gardens,” she said.

Paul Brown, a grandfather of children living on the estate, who hopes to see play equipment installed there, said it “was designed and sold as a family area”.

“Right from the start it had a play scheme incorporated in it,” he said.

Oakmere says this is not something all of its residents want to see.

Mark Wilkinson, operations director for Oakmere, has previously said: “This has been greatly debated by residents on site and we have been asked by various residents not to install, whereby others want it, so we consulted with the council and have requested their instruction.”

He said the firm was awaiting further instruction to fulfill their planning obligation.

He declined to comment when contact by The Cumberland News over the latest claims.

Recent discussions with Carlisle City Council regarding an off-site contribution led to an offer of £10,000 from the developers to Arthuret Parish Council to improve the set-up at other existing play sites in the town.

Members refused the offer, insisting Oakmere should develop on its own estate. They were keen to see play provision put in place.