TEMPORARY fencing has cordoned off a “death trap” open culvert in a Halesowen park, allying fears that a child or dog could be drown.

Severn Trent Water sprung into action and fenced off the hazard in Hurst Green Park within 24 hours of being contacted by the News.

Residents living close by were told in April that pipe re-laying would take 22 weeks, but the land has still not been properly restored.

A concerned neighbour, who refused to be named, contacted the News saying she feared a child or a dog could fall into the culvert and drown.

“It’s dreadful the way it was left – a death trap – someone could be killed,” she added.

An embarrassed STW spokeswoman said: “I’ve spoken to our team who attended the park on Friday.

“I can only apologise to the local community for the mess that has been left.”

Temporary fencing was erected immediately and the company has promised to tidy the park within a fortnight.

“The brand new fence around the culvert will be put up in the next two weeks as we’re waiting for it to be manufactured.

“The top soil will also be cleared away in the next two weeks. The area has also been seeded,” she added.

Halesowen North councillor Hilary Bills said the council had been urging Severn Trent Water to make the culvert safe and finish landscaping the site.

The Labour councillor said a friends’ group was in the process of being set up to protect and improve the problem-hit park, which faces a number of issues.

The council is pressing the Highways Agency to stop excess water flooding onto the land, rendering two full-sized football pitches unusable.

Cllr Bills, who is cabinet member for environment and culture, said the land had been turned into “marsh” by water running off the M5 down access steps into a stream, both of which are blocked sending water spewing onto the pitches.

The park has also become a haven for thieves stripping copper wire.

Cllr Bills said they were lighting fires in the coppice to burn off the plastic or rubber coatings, which they left behind.

“Arson is a criminal act and we will be speaking to local police to see if anything can be done to deter people lighting fires in the park,” she said, adding: “We would also encourage local residents to report any problems of this kind to the police.”