Council bosses have been accused of letting down residents after a planning inspector ruled that an urban green space could not be fenced off.

After a public inquiry the government official decided that the land at Kingsley Close in Feniscowles, Blackburn, must be protected as Public Open Space (POS).

It followed a row breaking out between between Blackburn with Darwen Council and landowners, Dobcrest Homes, who built an estate at Kingsley Close two decades ago.

Following this, the owners enquired about planning permission to build houses on the ‘green lung’, which is home to wildlife including hares, deer, woodpeckers and birds of prey.

No application was submitted but Dorbcrest Homes then closed off access to the land with a padlocked gate across its only entrance, infuriating residents who have maintained the land as informal public space for many years.

The council issued an enforcement notice requiring the firm to maintain the land in a neat condition and allow unrestricted public access.

Dorbcrest appealed the notice but in February a planning inspector ruled in favour of the authority, delighting the local residents group, borough leader Cllr Phil Riley and its growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood.

But now residents' spokesperson Amanda Barnes says nothing has been done to maintain the parcel of land and accused the two councillors of misleading local people about its future.

She said: "In February the councillors were quick to congratulate themselves on saving the Kingsley Close Green Public Open Space for future generations.

"This was a celebratory moment for residents gave them hope that the POS would finally be returned to the wonderful open space that they have loved, used and maintained for many years.

"However, the POS is still a mess and not useable in its present state.

"The ground is uneven, the path and seating have not been reinstated.

"The reality is the land isn’t being managed, it isn’t being looked after and it is not in a neat and healthy condition.

"Did Cllr Mahmood and Cllr Riley not understand the decision at the time?

"Their celebratory comments were misleading."

Martin Kelly, Blackburn with Darwen Council's strategic director for growth, said: “We fully sympathise with the residents of Kinglsey Close.

“We have worked closely with them over the last three years to ensure the land remained open to the public, that was always the priority.

“We had hoped that the positive outcome of the Public Inquiry would be a real turning point and that we could work with the landowner to ensure that it would be well maintained so it could be enjoyed by the residents.

“Sadly, despite our best efforts, the private landowner has since confirmed that they have no intention of maintaining the site. We have sought additional legal advice on this and sadly we cannot change that.

“Despite the land being privately owned, our Environment Team has cut the grass there over the summer, on a good will basis, but I’m afraid there is little more we can do.

“The only way the issue can now be resolved is between the residents and the landowners themselves, which I can understand is incredibly frustrating.”

Dorbcrest Homes has been approached for comment.