PARENTS in Cirencester have branded knee-high safety fences around a park “a joke” and say they will not protect their children from a busy road.

There have been long-running safety concerns over Thistle Patch Park in Chesterton since the play area was built last summer.

Concerned parents called for a fence to be put up circling the popular site as they feared their children might run out onto Cranham’s Lane, which is a busy bus route.

Last week, eight months after the first call for safety measures, Cirencester Town Council workmen erected several horizontal wooden beams on stilts.

But they are only knee-high in height and their design has failed to appease parents.

They believe they could cause, not prevent, accidents as their children try to walk on top of them.

Chesterton mum Julie Harvey said: “Children will try to balance on it and there will be more accidents. It’s a joke and everyone’s laughing at them.

“Is it going to stop children running into the road after a football?

“Their footballs will go through the fence.”

She added: “They have just put something up to shut us up.”

But Chesterton councillor Roly Hughes says there are plans to plant shrubs around the fence in March to prevent children passing through onto the main road.

He believes parents should take some responsibility for their children’s safety, instead of relying purely on the authorities.

Cllr Hughes said: “The committee of Chesterton Community Project has been working closely with parents on making the play park safer.

“It was decided to have a knee-high fence 10 metres away from the road.

“I’ve had comments saying what a waste of money this is.

“But parents will be told to watch their children when they go there.

“Some parents do, but others just leave their kids there and let them run riot.

“I pick up cider bottles and cans over there – we once filled three bags.”

Mrs Harvey admits the planting of shrubs will improve safety, but takes issue with Cllr Hughes’ comments about children being left alone at the park.

“Some parents drop off their older children with their younger children. But then the older ones see their friends and leave the younger ones on their own,” she added.

There will be an update on the fences at the next Chesterton Community Project meeting, led by Cllr Hughes, on February 4 at 7.30pm.