A FED-UP youngster has called for the playpark on her street to be “saved”.

A padlock and chain are across the gate at the playpark on Dunbar’s Wilson Road, with weeds more than a foot tall poking through the bark chips.

It is unclear when the park, which is owned by a third party, could reopen, with youngsters forced to leave the street to find a similar playpark.

It is a similar situation on neighbouring Wilson Place, with the playpark again off limits.

Ten-year-old Eva McCandlish, who attends Dunbar Primary School, made a plea to the Courier to “save our park before it is too late”, with the park having been out of use for more than a year.

She said: “Our park has become extremely overgrown with weeds, an eyesore for the rest of our street.

“But the weeds aren’t the only problem. The park has been unusable for years because some of the items are just not safe.

“I have a three-year-old sister, Ailsa, who has never been able to play in the park due to the circumstances, even though she has to walk past it every single day.

“It is just cruel to tell young children that they are not allowed to play in the park opposite them.

“Also, myself, my brother Rory and most of the children on our street have not been able to play safely in our park for most of the time living on our street.”

In the meantime, the upkeep of the park is not being carried out.

East Lothian Courier:

Paint is flaking off the playground equipment, while rubbish also sits in the bin.

Graham Adams, vice-chairman of Dunbar Community Council, lives on Wilson Road and said the land had been sold on by the developer.

He said: “It would be used if it was in a fit state.”

The community council has taken the issue up with East Lothian Council, while the problem has been highlighted by local homeowners.

Malcolm Payton, chairman of King’s Meadow Owners’ Association, said it was an issue which had been ongoing for a number of years.

He said: “The developer originally owned the land and it has now been sold on in individual packets.

“Different people own the different playparks.

“My understanding is they have a responsibility for maintaining them and should be maintaining them but they have not been maintaining them and put a padlock onto them to stop people from accessing them.”

Mr Payton confirmed the issue had been highlighted to the local authority but there seemed to be little progress.

A spokeswoman for the local authority confirmed it was not a council maintained playpark.

The park also does not fall under a site that would be covered by the health and safety department and the council would have “no remit to close it off or enforce clear-up or maintenance of equipment”.