BUNGLING councillors have accidentally voted to axe a playground they were trying to save.

At an “embarrassing” and “shambolic” Ferndown Town Council meeting on Monday, they approved a decision to tear down a fit-for-purpose play area on the Heatherlands Estate.

After an outcry from residents at the Environment Committee’s original resolution last month, councillors were quick to reassure them that Dugdell Close playground was in fact safe and the full council would not rubber-stamp the decision.

But on Monday, just minutes after being handed a petition of 276 signatures against demolishing the play area, they voted 16-1 to do just that, with one abstention.

Many said they had misunderstood what they were voting on and tried to retract the decision.

But it was too late.

Legally, it could not be discussed again for six months, until eight councillors sent a letter to the town clerk asking for another chance.

Cllr John Little said: “I think we’ve got ourselves into a bit of a mess” and Mayor Jean Read did not know the estate was on her ward.

Deputy mayor Steven Lugg, who wants to secure funding to refurbish the play area, said: “There are too many occasions over the past few years where this has happened. I have no idea what is going on.” He added later: “The meeting was handled very badly and I was embarrassed.”

Andy Skeats, chairman of Ferndown youth club “Riffs” said: “It resembled an episode more like the Vicar of Dibley than decisions made by an informed town council.

“They have managed to accept to close a needed community play area.”

Cllr Lesley Dedman described the meeting as “a debacle” and “shambolic”.

An extraordinary meeting to reverse the decision will be called as soon as possible.