VITAL talks could be held with the community over the future of a unique woodland after an application to list it as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) was thrown out by Malvern Hills District Council.
Malvern Community Forest applied to the authority to list Langdale Wood off Blackmore Park Road but the proposal was turned down as it ‘failed to meet the necessary criteria’.
The ACV scheme gives communities and individuals the opportunity to bid for buildings and land important to them.
If successful, the group would have had six months to come up with a bid for the site if the owners, the Three Counties Agricultural Society, decided to sell it.
However, the district council’s assessment panel felt there was only limited evidence to demonstrate Langdale Wood would further the social interest and well-being of the community both now and in the future as required by the act.
It was also noted while the woodland was used informally by the public for dog walking over a number of years, it was in fact privately owned and there was no evidence which specific permission had ever been granted for general public access.
Coun Jeremy Owenson, responsible for tourism on Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We judge each nomination fairly and impartially and on this occasion there was not enough evidence to meet the criteria set out by law to list Langdale Wood as an Asset of Community Value.
“However, we have spoken with Three Counties Agricultural Society and we are delighted that they have agreed to meet with the community to discuss the future of the woods.”
The plan for talks come after the Three Counties Agricultural Society submitted plans to build 40 holiday lodges and a small reception office within Langdale Wood.
Their submission was an amendment to the application to build 50 holiday lodges and a large reception office which was rejected by the district council’s southern area planning committee in January.
Ken Nottage, chief executive of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, said: “At present no meeting has been arranged, however, the society is happy to talk to Malvern Community Forest.”
