MALVERN Town Council is being asked to consider selling off or renting out its £600,000 Belle Vue Terrace headquarters as a matter of urgency.

The motion, which was due to be considered by the council today, was being tabled by Coun Adrian Ward and backed by Malvern Town Action Group.

It will require town clerk Shirley Young to provide a current valuation of the property and estimates of income from renting each part of it. She will also be asked to cost the conversion of premises at the rear of the building to office use.

Ms Young said the rear part of the building, which used to house the Bran Tub shop, was the only unoccupied section. The council has set aside £15,000 to renovate it but more would be needed to complete the task.

The Grade II listed former Manders pharmacy building, which cost £212,000 to buy and £415,000 to convert, was estimated by then town clerk, Stuart McDonough, to have operating costs of £100,000 per year.