National park plea in row over protected hills

The council has concerns over a number of extended powers proposed in the bill, including the closure of footpaths.

Calls to abolish a trust that protects and manages the Malvern Hills, and replace it with a national park, have come from a Worcestershire councillor.

Labour councillor Richard Udall said the Malvern Hills Bill, which proposes changes to the way the trust is governed, is not fit for purpose.

He was speaking as Worcestershire County Council voted to oppose the bill in its current form.

Conservative Councillor Adrian Hardman told the full council: "The Malvern Hills Trust is outdated, misplaced and irrelevant to the real needs of Malvern Hills. It needs to go." But trust chief executive Deborah Fox said the organisation wanted to modernise its governance.

Trust 'outdated'

The council has concerns over a number of extended powers proposed in the bill, including the installation of cattlegrids and closure of footpaths.

Conservative Councillor Adrian Hardman told the full council: "The [trust] board in its current form does need some reform and I'm keen the council doesn't stand in its way."

But he added: "If you're putting in cattlegrids then you'll need fences – and that goes against the aims of the original bill."

Udall said: "The bill is not supported by local residents.

"We should be petitioning the government for the abolition of the Malvern Hills Trust and its replacement with a new national park, which would be directly elected, accountable and therefore much more transparent.'

Deborah Fox welcomed people to attend a drop-in event

Ms Fox said: "The Malvern Hills Trust is here to care for the hills and commons. The trust is trying to update and modernise its governance.

"The trust was established by an Act of Parliament and any major changes in our governance require a new act."

She said she welcomed anyone with questions to attend one of the drop-in events in July and August.

Ms Fox added: "We want to give people an opportunity to have their questions answered and learn more about how the bill will allow us to operate more effectively."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.