From left: protesters Michaela Smith, Christine Gregory, Nurcan Anur and Mawlid Mohamud

A HOUSING association has been told a new playground is unsafe for children after being constructed next to a car park.

Residents of the Peabody Square estate just off Essex Road held a protest on Wednesday with signs that said “Cars and kids don’t mix.”

Neighbours say the equipment is not properly fenced off and is an accident waiting to happen as children could run into traffic. They say this has tipped them over the edge after many years of suffering what they say is neglect at the hands of Peabody Housing Association, which runs the estate.

“This playground is the last straw – it’s not safe for our kids,” said Nurcan Anur, who has lived on the estate for nine years.

“It’s just the last thing in a long history of being neglected and put in unhealthy situations by Peabody, and I’m just sick and tired of it.”

Mawlid Mohamud, another resident, added: “They’ve spent money, but they’ve not done it well. The lack of fencing means anyone can come in to do anything. It’s going to be impossible to just send my kids out and keep an eye on them from my window.

The playground has not been fenced off and is unsafe for children, say residents

“People are also going in there with their dogs, the dogs are pooing, and the owners aren’t cleaning it up.”

He added: “Us, as a religion, if the dog poo touches our clothes, we have to wash it seven times, once with sand, because I cannot pray with those clothes otherwise.”

Mr Mohamud said he is overcrowded in his two-bed flat with his wife and three kids and told the Tribune that part of his ceiling caved in two years ago because of a leak, and he waited five months for Peabody to repair it. He taped plastic bags to the ceiling while he waited.

The single-glazed windows in his property give him damp and mould problems, and push his electricity bill up and up.

Ms Anur said she took action against Peabody after she was moved out of her flat for three months while work was done, and when she returned, the same problems were still there.

“I’ve told them I don’t want the money. I’ve told them they have to house me because you can’t keep me in this property,” she said. “It’s so small and we can’t breathe in there. I’m top priority for a move, apparently. But, am I getting anywhere? No.”

Peabody say the playground has been certified as safe by an independent inspector. A spokesperson for said: “We’re sorry some residents are experiencing problems in their homes, and we are working to fix the outstanding issues that have been reported to us as soon as possible.

“We worked with play experts and local residents on the design of the new play area. We hope that young people will enjoy the safe, welcoming and attractive space, which has a range of play equipment as well as trees and plants to help clean the air.

“Feedback is important to us, and we will continue to engage with residents.”