MALVERN's mayor David Williams says he is pleased with the initial results of the town council's Best Value summary consultation.

Copies of the document outlining the council's spending plans and including a questionnaire were sent to all Malvern households. A total of 324 had been returned by the start of this week.

The initial response shows a majority in favour of Malvern Town Council's proposed spending projects.

A total of 229 people said the council should extend Malvern Cemetery, off Wilton Road, as opposed to 56 who said it should be closed. And 255 said the council should carry out necessary repairs to the cemetery church, with only 44 against.

Council initiatives on children's play areas, litter bins and bus stops also win public support, with 228 people saying the council should replace the Church Street bus stop, as opposed to 43 saying it should just have the top cut off.

The council's partnerships with community groups such as CAB and Dial-a-Ride is also backed.

And initiatives in Victoria Park, Malvern Link, are also supported, with the exception of the future of the grandstand, where 99 people voted for refurbishment and 103 for demolition.

Coun Williams said: "These figures tell me the town council projects are what the people of Malvern want but, of course, the only way they can be paid for is through the precept, that is, by the taxpayer.

"What I would say to everyone is keep those replies coming in. The more we have, the better we know what people want."

But Adrian Ward, of Malvern Town Action Group, said the results were close to meaningless.

He said: "Most of the questions were so loaded as to be ludicrous. They were worded in such a way as to get the answers the council wanted. There was no discussion of the cost implications."