Investigation into play area

COUNCILLORS are to investigate why residents' calls for play area improvements went unheard for seven years.

Earlier this year, more than 2,000 people signed a petition urging Stoke-on-Trent City Council to finish installing new play equipment at Richmond Street Park, in Penkhull.

As a result of the protest, the council announced plans in September to install new swings, climbing frames and slides to replace the current dilapidated equipment.

But members of the council's improving communities overview and scrutiny committee have questioned why it took campaigners so long to get a response from the authority.

Ward member for Hartshill and Penkhull, councillor Randy Conteh, asked members to support an investigation into the situation.

He said: "We have been waiting for these improvements for nearly seven years. I would like to propose that we set up a spotlight review to look at this."

The panel unanimously approved the review, which will be led by Mr Conteh.