NEWNTON Grove Playpark Action Group is to renew its fight after talks to secure the future of the play area broke down.

The park is next to the former open-air pool at Alexander Road, Malmesbury, which has been earmarked for housing by North Wiltshire District Council.

Campaigners, worried that the play area would be also used for housing, thought it was safe after promises from the district council last year.

But talks between the action group, the district council and developers Westlea broke down last Tuesday.

The action group has already handed a 500-name petition to the council when the housing plans were first mooted, but this week said it would do the same again.

Action group member Andy Pottinger said: "There is no clear guidelines to what the size of the park will be, how much will spent and when it will be developed.

"We are unhappy and we are going to send some flyers out to see what the rest of Malmesbury think about it."

Under present plans, the size of the park would be reduced from around 960 square metres to 905 square metres but £60,000 would be available for new equipment, said Mr Pottinger.

A total of 20 houses would be built, including four on the lock up garage site at Alexander Road and a further two on the car park opposite the swimming pool entrance.

Mr Pottinger said he was unhappy that the houses, which were originally proposed as two storeys, were now three storeys high.

County councillor John Thomson supported the action group and described the land, which is wholly owned by the district council, as a "golden opportunity" to develop as a bigger, improved playpark on the lines demanded by the action group.

He said he had supported a scheme for a 1,200 metre square playpark but this was opposed in favour of the present scheme by the mayor and district councillor Patrick Goldstone.

Mr Goldstone said: "I think it is vital the play park is kept. At the same time we have a desperate need for more affordable houses.

"The reduction, if it comes about, is marginal. I think we have to go for the optimum development."