Councillors are demanding tens of thousands of pounds set aside to improve Halstead’s public spaces is finally spent after a year long wait.

Braintree Council has been given £50,342 by those building small developments in the town to help improve and create public facilities.

The money was paid to the council more than a year ago and the authority has now been criticised by Halstead Town Council for failing to spend a single penny.

Town councillors raised the issue in November last year and voiced their dismay once again during a meeting this week, where it was pointed out that the money had still not been used 12 months on.

Deputy chairman Mick Radley, who is also in charge of the town council’s finance committee, said: “The one thing that I am concerned about is the open spaces contribution for smaller developments.

“The current balance held by Braintree Council is the same number I reported to you all one year ago.

“I have checked this with them and they have confirmed it. Nothing has changed.

“I am very concerned that Braintree Council is not making any progress with this. The responsibility lies with them to spend the money.

“We have identified through our own open spaces action plan very clearly what this town needs and requires.”

Mr Radley also confirmed money provided by the developer behind the 103-home Colchester Road development has now been paid to Braintree Council.

The authority has been given £87,629 to spend on a new artificial training pitch at Halstead Leisure Centre. It has also been given £2,700 to improve allotments along Colne Road.

This money will soon be transferred to Halstead Town Council who will be responsible for spending it on the allotments.

A spokesman for Braintree Council said: “The £50,000 is from multiple Section 106 agreements and is only received in instalments at different trigger points throughout a development’s completion.

“Each Section 106 agreement has different conditions, so we cannot always put the full amount into one project.

“We’re keen to make sure that the money is put to good use to benefit the community and we are working with Halstead Town Council to make that happen.

“We are looking forward to start working on projects in Halstead next year.”

Contributions provided from companies in charge of larger developments in Halstead will be providing more than £2 million in funding for education in Halstead once work on new homes has been completed.