THE installation of a new £100,000 garden play area at Maldon's Promenade Park will be delayed - possibly until after the summer.

It was hoped when the plans for the redesign and upgrade of the popular Sensory Garden play area were agreed by councillors at a meeting on 24 November that it could open to the public in May this year.

However, the tendering exercise was unsuccessful after no suitable applicants bid for the work.

Now the contract for the installation of the new playground area will need to be carried out again, leaving little chance that the work can be carried out until after the busy summer season.

The Promenade Park Garden Play Scheme draft designs were put to public consultation in August 2020. The report to councillors on the exercise showed an overwhelmingly positive response to the plans.

A spokesperson for Maldon District Council said: "Unfortunately, we didn't have anyone come forward, so we will have to put the contract back out to tender and hope for a better result this time."

The innovative scheme is designed to encourage inclusive play and includes planting proposals for the whole area, with trees and formal beds in keeping with the existing park environment.