AMBITIOUS plans to build a ‘ghastly and awful’ cable car on the Malvern Hills have been rejected over fears of the impact on the landscape.
Malvern for All followed on with the idea after initial proposals for the structure were brought to the Malvern Conservators’ attention in October 2013 by a group called High Street Malvern.
The route would have seen the car travel from land at the southern end of Rose Bank Gardens, up Rushey Valley, to a point just below the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon.
But plans were slammed by members of the Conservators, who manage the hills, after they highlighted their legal position and duty of care to the site.
Pete Watson, vice chairman of the Conservators, also the long-term impacts on the historical landmark would be significant.
“We would have to have a safety inspection every morning,” he added. “There would have to be additional roads up to the top and there would be additional litter.
“After a weekend there are bags and bags of litter so what is going to happen on top of the hills with the increased numbers, it will be ghastly.
“Health and safety would come along and say you need a paved pathway which sounds completely ghastly and awful.”
Malvern for All projected the car would bring an additional 331,000 people to the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon but Colwall resident Dwayne Martin told members at the meeting last Thursday (February 12) it would be a step in the wrong direction.
Mr Martin, formerly of Matlock Bath, told the committee when a similar project was given the go-ahead in the Derbyshire village it changed the character of the area. He said: “The main businesses attractions there are chip shops, arcades and tacky gift shops. All you could smell in the area was chip fat.
“The money was not being put back in to the local community, but being taken out and rubbish and litter was just strewn on to the pavements. It has done nothing to benefit that environment.”
But despite the widespread fears, some members did express a like to the controversial scheme.
Richard Chamings, also UKIP parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire, said: “On a personal basis I would love to see a cable car at the top of the hills, I would love to see a café at the top and be able to enjoy the sunset and sunrise.
“It is a great opportunity for Malvern and a great lifeline to help the area over the next few decades.”
A total of 21 members voted against plans, none voted for it and only one abstained.
