A LEGAL tussle is holding up a site earmarked for parking in Bewdley.

Land at the old pumping station, next to Dog Lane car park, was due to be let to Wyre Forest District Council 18 months ago.

The land has yet to be converted to accommodate around 20 extra spaces, however.

The council's head of cultural, leisure and commercial services, Andrew Dickens, explained he could not go into details of why the land was not being used but said: "The situation is it was part of a land transaction where it should have been let out and, for various reasons, we are still in the midst of sorting that out.

"It is nothing to do with the construction work. It is to do with the land transaction. There is a contractual issue that is trying to be resolved."

Bewdley town councillor, Paul Gittins, has written to the district council urging the land be put into use as soon as possible.

He said: "The pumping station is surrounded by conifer trees, many have been burnt down and it is an eyesore for people walking along the riverside.

"Two weeks ago, cars were going around the car park in circles, waiting for a parking place to become available.

"If people come to visit our town and cannot find a parking place they may never come back again."