A PUBLIC meeting is to be called by the town council to discuss the way a new hard play area for youngsters on the Marlborough Recreation ground should be run.

As part of a deal between the council and the developers of the new home at Coombe End House, the derelict hard tennis courts are to become a play area for children.

It will provide an all weather surface for ball games.

Coun Richard Allen, who represents the town council on the youth centre management committee, suggested that the youth centre could be asked to run the area.

Coun Allen said the power for the floodlighting of the former courts came from the youth centre and he reminded councillors: "As a town council we did not exactly excel at looking after the area ourselves."

Mayor Hilary Cripps said other young people as well as youth club members would want to use the area.

Coun Allen said: "That would not be a problem, the youth centre would just keep a day to day eye on it."

Committee chairman Peggy Dow suggested there should be a public meeting to which people could be invited to air their views.