DEVELOPERS have been accused of neglecting a popular park as they push ahead with work on hundreds of new homes.

The Echo revealed 18 months ago a huge mound of earth, dubbed Australia’s Ayers Rock, had appeared at Basildon’s Gloucester Park as workmen pushed ahead with the latest phase of the Barratt Homes development.

The eyesore has now been removed, but there is now a huge patch of dead grass next to the children’s playground.

Residents have also complained about other parts of the park being overrun, bins overflowing with rubbish, and builders leaving their equipment behind.

Andrew Buxton, Labour councillor for St Martin’s ward, who lives in Roodegate, which backs on to Gloucester Park, led a campaign to stop Basildon Council selling off land at Gloucester Park for £4million back in 2009 to help fund Basildon Sporting Village.

He said: “A lot of people have been complaining about the state of the park.

“It seems to have taken them a long time to finish some parts of the development. People are just really fed, there has been a lot of disruption for a long time now.

“The park is meant to be a nice place to go, but it’s just looking a bit of a mess at the moment.

“If you compare Gloucester Park to places like Lake Meadows, it seems to have been seriously neglected.”

Phil Rackley, Green Party councillor for St Martin’s ward, is trying to set up regular meetings with Barratt Homes to discuss issues raised by residents.

He said: “The problem is people don’t know where to go when they’re having the problems. The council and Barratt Homes should be working together.

“Here we have a massive development and the people of Basildon are being let down.

“People don’t want to take their children to the playground at Gloucester Park, and that isn’t right.”

Work is currently under way on the second phase of 100 homes.

The development also includes a boulevard pathway link into the town centre. The first phase of 144 homes has been sold.

Landscaping work to begin next week

WORK to reseed the grass and clear weeds at Gloucester Park is set to begin next week.

Jason Colmer, Barratt Homes sales director, said: “In addition to building our high quality new homes at Gloucester Gate we have also carried out significant works to Gloucester Park. This has included resurfacing footpaths, building a bowls club and creating a brand new lake.

“We appreciate the support and patience local people have shown throughout the construction of Gloucester Gate and we will continue to endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum.

“We will be constructing a path which will link the town to the country park and next week we will be cutting, weeding and reseeding the grass where necessary.”