Parish councillors at Breage moved swiftly this week to resolve issues surrounding a new public amenity in the village after admitting dragging their heels over the matter.

Members of the Breage field committee attended a council meeting on Tuesday to question why it was taking so long to draw up a land usage agreement and constitution relating to the village play area, which was opened over a year ago.

Committee secretary Jane Ratcliffe said the delays had left the group, and other local residents, feeling frustrated.

"The postponement of this agenda item several times has made the group feel the parish council do not see us as a priority, and we have been sidelined, further frustrating our efforts to function as a committee," she said.

"We acknowledge some support has been shown by the council, but cannot understand why there are so many stumbling blocks."

Land for the new play area in the heart of the village was bought by the parish council and landscaped using funds from the Breage and Germoe Regeneration Project.

A committee of local people was set up to develop the field into a safe play area for all ages, with amenities including a toddlers play area, bog garden, board walk, bandstand and multi-purpose hardstanding area.

Mrs Ratcliffe said the lack of a constitution had meant the group was unable to apply for any major funding to progress the £100,000 scheme.

Unless matters were resolved quickly, the group would be unable to continue in its present role.

"The parish council would lose the services of a highly motivated group to fund raise for the benefit of their community," she said. "The field would become a white elephant. The village would have lost an asset."

Former councillor Sarah Tresidder said people in the village were becoming "despondent" at the lack of progress and local youngsters were losing the enthusiasm they had shown at the start of the project.

Chairman Tony Woodhams admitted the council may have "dragged its heels" over the constitution, but said other matters had had to take priority.

Responsibility for the amenity had been passed to local people because they were the ones who should decide how it was developed.

The council could take the land back, he added, but would not be able to run it as effectively as a local committee.

Details of a draft land usage agreement and constitution were discussed later in the meeting, to the satisfaction of both parties. The formal documents will now be drawn up.