A RESIDENTS' association has questioned the management of a popular splash park after it closed for the year at the start of this month.

The council-managed facility at Christchurch Quay was turned off from September 1 after a troubled year.

Maintenance issues caused the opening of the splash park to be pushed back until late-May and it was forced to close during the school summer holidays for further repairs.

Christchurch Citizens' Association (CCA) has written to Cllr Margaret Phipps, chair of the community committee, and Judith Plumley, Christchurch Borough Council's head of community and leisure, to voice concerns about how the attraction is handled.

The group is calling for the splash park to open five months of the year, rather than the current three-month policy.

Sue Bungey, CCA) committee member, said: "Why can't they do the maintenance in April? "Parents were turning up on September 3, when children were still on school holidays, and the parking attendant was having to tell them the splash park was closed.

"It is absolutely disgusting that it is just open for three months of the year.

"There were issues with it opening at the start of summer and it wasn't the first time.

"It is frustrating because it is such a fabulous place for people to go. It is fantastic and children really enjoy it one day, but then it suddenly closes."