NEWNTON Grove is the most important playground in Malmesbury, according to a survey of householders.

The playground came top in the poll of 1,000 households conducted by North Wiltshire District Council in areas around Newnton Grove, Reeds Farm and St Aldhelms Mead.

Respondents could vote for their top three most important play parks. Out of the 350 survey replies received, Reeds Farm came second with 91 counts, six behind Newnton Grove.

Andy Pottinger, of White Lion Park, who has been campaigning to save Newton Grove, said the indications were good that the park could be kept.

"We are more positive than we were before and it seems that we are going to save the park," he said.

But the survey also showed that townspeople wanted the standard of facilities improved at Newnton Grove.

Only 45 per cent of responses to the survey thought Newnton Grove was of a satisfactory standard, 20 per cent thought it was of an unsatisfactory standard and only 11 per cent thought it was excellent. Twenty four percent of respondents did not know.