SUNDAY night's storms in Petersfield have raised fresh concerns over the safety of the controversial children's play area on the new Ramshill housing estate. More than three years ago Bryant Homes was given the go-ahead for the 276-home estate, which included a kickabout area for youngsters. Earlier this year East Hampshire district councillors claimed that, without their knowledge, the area had been turned into a balancing pond with huge underground tanks to hold surface water in times of heavy rainfall. Despite the long summer, part of the "kickabout area" has been ankle-deep in water after heavy rainfalls. And there is concern among councillors that the area cannot be used safely. Last month Bryant Homes, its consultants WPS Developers and councillors held a site visit at Ramshill to discuss the issue. The problem was first highlighted in February by district councillor Brian Dutton. This week, after torrential rain on Sunday, he told The Herald: "This is the second time in two years that water has flooded from the overflow drain. I am now beginning to question the developer's statistics, as I understand that this was not exceptional weather on Sunday evening." He added: "What we have as a recreational area there at the present time is not in my estimation a suitable place for children to play." "Having heard the explanation put forward at the site visit I do not believe that this balancing pond has been built to the standards required to provide a suitable area for children to play." EHDC's new head of planning development Daryl Phillips said: "At the moment the planning position is that the area should be an informal recreation area." Planning conditions required drainage works to be carried out, he said. "The developer has introduced a balancing pond which wasn't there at the outset." "The issue is whether it makes the land still fit for purpose, and that is what we are looking at closely," he said. He stressed that the developers had not yet completed the drainage work. "They have put in the holding tanks, and the key issue is whether they are sufficient to hold the water, but they have not completed the soakaway element." "We are looking for the developers to finish off the drainage work and demonstrate that it works properly." "From last weekend, the question is whether or not the tanks overflowed, and if so, why." He said he hoped the developers would complete their drainage scheme in the next month, and after that district councillors would decide whether the dual use was acceptable. In the meantime Mr Phillips has also asked for an independent safety survey to be carried out by RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.