PLANS for a long-awaited children's play area for Barrow Green in Chippenham could be saved if North Wiltshire District Council provides extra money for running costs.

A total of £25,000 to set up the play area was promised by the district council, and the Westlea and Knightstone Housing Associations.

But Chippenham Town Council declined to take on the maintenance and running costs of more than £7,000 a year saying its resources were already stretched to the limit.

It said it had reached capacity in the number of play areas it could maintain without extra staff.

Residents feared this would mean the proposed play area would never be built.

At a meeting on Monday the district council's Chippenham area committee agreed to ask its executive committee to consider making a £2,500 contribution to the town council to cover the running costs for the first year.

"I can't believe this has gone on as long as it has," said town councillor Ross Henning.

"The town council simply has not got money in the budget this year for this."

District councillor Jane Scott said a decision should be made urgently.

"We need to get on with this and get this play area built by the summer," she said.