MALVERN Hills District Council has revealed its programme for public consultation over the future management and operation of Malvern Theatres

Members of the council's executive committee will be asked to rubber stamp the programme when it meets on Tuesday (July 16).

If it is agreed a consultation document will be produced by July 31 and published on August 1 before being discussed at public meetings in Malvern, Tenbury Wells and Upton-upon-Severn in early September.

Meetings with volunteer workers at the theatres and other relevant organisations would then take place before reports go before the executive committee on September 17 and full council on September 24.

The council will also accept faxes, emails and letters from the public during August.

It says it wants people to have the opportunity for a full, open and well-informed debate.

Members of Malvern Concert Club, meanwhile, were due to discuss Malvern Theatres' future at the club's annual general meeting last night (Thursday).

The club's committee had made the matter a special agenda item and was set to urge members to attend a public meeting called by the Malvern Gazette which will take place on July 24.

"We really want to establish what members feelings are so we can then encourage members of the club to go to the meeting and express their views," said assistant secretary Ernie Kay before the meeting.

A member of the committee was also to be nominated to speak on behalf of the club.

"What I can say in advance is that we don't want anything damaging the good relationship us and our peer organisations have established with the Theatres," he said.

n The Malvern Gazette's public meeting is being held at The Forum on Wednesday, July 24, at 7.30pm and is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Written questions can be submitted to the Gazette before the meeting to help speed things up on the night.