A CONTROVERSIAL Malvern play area is to remain open after an eventful meeting of Malvern Town Council.

About 70 residents living near the Avon Close play area crammed into the council's headquarters on Monday to hear the decision on its future.

One resident, Dr Rebecca Baxter, also presented to mayor Frances Victory a petition signed by around 270 people to keep the facility open.

The council considered the options of whether to sell the land or retain it and carry out work to reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour there.

Following the decision, the Hastings Road entrance will now be closed, with paving removed and replaced with shrubs and a seven feet high fence.

The trees surrounding the site will be reduced to 5ft in height to lessen the 'enclosed' nature of the play area and grass will be grown longer to discourage ball games.

Bar benches, which can be leant against, will be installed. These are designed for short periods of rest not for comfort.

The last of the measures agreed is to secure the site each night, reopening it in the morning.

Councillors suggested that a residents association could be formed to take responsibility for the play area.

Before the vote, residents young and old spoke out in favour of both keeping the playground and closing it down.

Karol Carry, who lives adjacent to the site, drew a round of applause from supporters to keep it open.

But others at the meeting urged the council to close the site, including one resident who said the issue was about older teenagers congregating in the park after dark.

A letter, read out by town clerk Shirley Young des-cribed children climbing on the roof of the resident's house.

"I have suffered from trees being set alight, causing damage to my property," the letter said.

"There are a lot of reasons for asking for the closure of the play area."

After lengthy debate, councillors voted by ten votes to seven to keep the play area, with one abstention. Supporters greeted the result with more applause.