A council has approved the resurfacing of a play area eight months after it was told the work was urgent.

Members of the full council of Oakham Town Council agreed to the resurfacing plan, at their meeting this week.

The surface of the playarea at Cutts Close has been disintegrating for some time, and is in need of both repair and resurfacing. At the same time some of the broken play equipment will also be repaired.

The council has been discussing this since November 2023, and failed to come to a decision despite residents' complaints and the council treating the matter as 'urgent'.

Council Clerk, Chris Evans, said: "Let's be blunt about this – we've got to make a decision now, as this has dragged on too long. The only economically sensible decision, given the nature of the ground underneath the play area is to agree on one of the two bids we have received.

"Both bids will fix the surface that is already there and then apply either a thin 16mm Coldpour, the rubberised spongy surface that is already there, or an artificial grass-style surface.

"I know this is a sensitive issue for members, so my view is that we approve the funding tonight of up to £25,000, and that two or more councillors visit the bidding companies to see what they are offering, and that those councillors then approve one or other of the options, and that the rest of the members agree with that decision.

"What we do not want to be doing is digging anywhere near the play area. I've spoken with English Heritage and they have confirmed that the moment a shovel goes into the top soil, they want to know what's in it!"

Cllr Sally-Anne Wadsworth said: "But that still means we won't be making a decision tonight."

"You could make a decision tonight if you chose to do so," Mr Evans replied. "But what I am suggesting is that a piece of paper describing the end product is not good enough for this play area. It would be better to actually see the two products firsthand, and make a decision based on that."

Cllr Lowe said: "Each of these proposals is similar in value, so I propose that we approve a provision of up to £25,000 tonight, that way the money is there and waiting, and that the final decision will come from Mr Evans and the nominated councillors who go and see the end product."

However, Cllr Council Philip Wildbore said: "I think the council is being misled because there is an 18" vitrified clay sewer laid all the way under the play area, and when any excavations have been done by Leicester University for Rutland County Council, they've always said 'nothing has been discovered', but every time they dig up things and it rains the drain is full of raw sewage.

"So, I my opinion, all that we will be doing by resurfacing the play area is papering over the cracks – nothing more than that. Provided the council feels it is fully informed in spending a sum of £25k papering over cracks, I shall be voting against this proposal."

Members agreed, by majority, to approve the proposal, and said the resurfacing and repairs to the play equipment be completed by the end of August at the latest.