A new children’s playground finally looks set to open after work began on it more than two years ago.

The slow progress of the play area, in South Way, Abbots Langley, has angered families who started a petition for its completion in June this year.

Three Rivers District Council has been urging Bellway Homes, the park’s property developer, to complete it. The authority threatened the firm with legal action earlier this year.

Cllr Sara Bedford said: “Getting this play area open for the summer was one of my priorities when I became council leader in May.

“It is a shame that Bellway have had to be forced by the threat of legal action to fulfil their obligations to local residents.”

The design of the park meant it was unable to pass required health and safety inspections from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

But the park has now been deemed safe for children and is expected to receive its Certificate of Completion in the next few days, despite the play area still having issues that need fixing.

The council has agreed to take over the site from Bellway on the condition it receives payment for the changes.

Shallow channels built in the play area as a form of drainage system were ineffective and instead filled with 18 inches of water in heavy rain.

To overcome the issue, Bellway Homes added wood chippings to the channels as a temporary measure to fill them in and soak up water.

The play ground’s zip wire needs to be 100mm higher before children can safely play on it and there are also sharp stones coming to the surface of the playground.

However, Cllr Bedford has said these are “minor” risks and RoSPA have agreed that the park is safe.

Cllr Bedford said: “There are still a number of low-level issues to be sorted out, but as the area has finally been declared safe, the council has made the decision to take over the play area and claim money from Bellway to complete the works.

“I am sure that everyone who uses the play area will agree that it is a wonderful place for local children, which will only improve as the trees and grasses grow.”

A Bellway Homes spokesman said: “We are looking forward to the opening of the park tomorrow. It was important to us that, supported by the council, we ensured the details, layout and equipment were correct, and we are now delighted that the park can be opened and enjoyed by the local neighbourhood.”