Shire Ditch

Malvern Hills Cable Car Proposal

PRESS RELEASE: Conservators to meet to discuss cable car proposal

The Malvern Hills Conservators, the charity which owns and protects the Hills and Commons of Malvern, is meeting this week to discuss proposals for a cable car on the Hills.

The cable car has been put forward by a group calling itself Malvern for All. The group are currently proposing that the car would operate from land to the south of Rose Bank Gardens - to a point just below the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon. Their current plans include a building close to the top of the Beacon which would house a gift shop, visitor centre, café and toilets. The system would require a base terminal building with coach parking and at least three pylons on the Hills, along with overhead cables. All this building would be on land owned by the Malvern Hills Conservators and so cannot proceed without the consent of the Conservators.

Helen Stace, Chairman of the Board of Conservators, said ‘The Conservators were established by Parliament to preserve the natural beauty of the Hills and keep them free of buildings and encroachment. This development would clearly have a significant impact on this iconic landscape, which would appear to be entirely at odds to the core purpose of our Acts. However, the idea has attracted a lot of interest, in the press, within the local community and from regular visitors to the Hills, so we felt the time was right for the Board to debate and vote on this proposal.’

As well as being protected under the Malvern Hills Acts, the Hills have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to their national importance for wildlife and geology. They form a major part of the Malvern Hills ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ – a designation intended to give protection to landscapes ‘whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to protect them’.

A special meeting of the Board will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday 12th February at the Council Chamber, Avenue Road, Malvern. The public are welcome to attend. Public questions for the meeting must be received in writing by the Conservators by noon on Tuesday 10th February.