THE children's play area in Alton's Public Gardens has been closed until further notice.
According to acting town clerk Greg Burt, the safety surface around the multi-play area has begun to bubble up and a new surface is to be relaid.
Treated now as a matter of urgency, the surface began to deteriorate last year and repairs were made, but more recently the council has received complaints from parents whose children have tripped on the uneven rubberised matting and hurt themselves.
"The state of the surface has deteriorated and because of the accidents we have realised that this is unacceptable, so we have locked the gate and put a sign up telling people that the area is closed.
"I know that it will curtail some people's enjoyment of the facility on a temporary basis but the work will be carried out as quickly as possible," said Mr Burt.
The closure has come too late for two small children. A 19-month-old toddler, Ryan Cushing, fell and grazed his head on the Thursday before Easter and this week four- year-old Charlie Fletcher suffered a similar fate.
"It is just not acceptable," said mother, Samantha Fletcher. As a childminder, based in Farringdon, Mrs Fletcher uses the play area a lot and believes that, at the very least, a notice should have been posted earlier warning parents of the state of the safety surface.
Because the safety surface was laid more than five years ago, it is out of guarantee and is expected to cost in the region of £2,200 to replace.
However, it is felt to be safer and cheaper than woodchippings which, according to Mr Burt, have to be regularly raked and topped up, nor can parents be sure what is hidden beneath the surface.
The fear is that chippings could conceal broken glass or even discarded needles.
"It is a great responsibility to provide and maintain a children's play area such as this," said Mr Burt.