PARENTS have been left frustrated after a former children’s centre has been “left to rot” as a battle to regain the lease of the site continues.

PARC Essex, at Great Notley Country Park, which cared for children with special needs, closed suddenly last June.

More than 100 families were affected and one year on, a petition has been launched as they fight to get the lease back from trustees, with the building being “left to rot” since its closure.

Matt and Jamey Carr launched POP Essex to fill the hole left by PARC.

Jamey, who started the ‘release our safe space’ petition, said: “The former PARC building has been left unused for a year now, overgrowing and quite literally left to rot.

“There still has been no way forward for those who desperately need access to the facilities that are able to be provided within the building.

“This building was created specifically for children like ours, yet it is now left unused despite the demand for it being higher than ever.

“So many families have been let down by these services being stopped. Despite best efforts, these services cannot be restarted by other charities because the building has been impossible to obtain through regulations and restrictions.

“Someone needs to be held accountable for this - but the most important need is for the building to be released so that the services and facilities can once again be provided to disabled children across Essex and their families.”

Trustee and former acting chief executive Chris McCann, told the BBC the situation was "not simple and straightforward".

He added: "We have a meeting where we will try and get to a position of being able to surrender the lease.”

Braintree Council, which owns the building, said it is working to regain the lease.

Resources and performance boss Kevin Bowers said: “Since last summer we have been continually asking for the trustees to be clear on their legal position so we can regain control of the property from them and bring it back to use.

“That includes asking the trustees to surrender the lease, which they have so far felt unable to do.

“It is our understanding none of the insolvency events detailed in their lease have taken place.

“We are therefore very limited with what we can do legally and according to their lease, despite the building lying empty and out of operation. 

“Nevertheless, we are pro-actively looking at other ways in which we can forfeit or end the lease, including engaging with Essex County Council, because we know how important this centre is to children and their families.”