MISGIVINGS about plans to create a "one-stop shop" for council services in Upton-upon-Severn were aired this week.

The creation of a Worcestershire Hub, or service centre, for the district and county councils involves buying land from West Mercia Police in order to extend Upton Library.

Some careful thought needed to be given to the land ownership question, said Simon Wilkinson, at this week's meeting of the town council.

"Are they going to purchase the land in front, which is the car park?" he wondered.

"Otherwise, the police could sell the police station and the car park and lots of little houses could go on there."

The district council has set aside £100,000 for the project to buy a piece of land containing disused garages beside the Library and create a service centre.

Advantage

Tim Perry thought the Memorial Hall was the obvious place for such a centre, but Town Mayor Mark Kerrigan said the library had the advantage of parking and IT facilities.

"It would have been rather nice to have been consulted, somewhere along the way," he said.

Eric White suggested it would provide an opportunity for the return of a registrar, lost to the town about four years ago.

"It causes considerable inconvenience to Upton people to have to go to Malvern to register births and deaths," he said.

District councillor Sue Adeney said it would be helpful to have a constructive meeting with those involved in planning the scheme, but added that she and district councillor Mary Wilkinson had kept the town council informed of what was being discussed.