TIDYING up the centre of Powick looks set to become a joint project between Powick Parish Council and Malvern Hills Highways Partnership.

District councillor Tom Wells was so concerned about the shabby state of the "island" at the centre of a gyratory traffic system on the Malvern to Worcester road, that he suggested forming a voluntary working party to tidy it up.

This week, he told the parish council that the highways department was prepared to provide paint, if volunteers could be found to paint the railings.

"It's an eyesore and it's the one part of Powick you would expect to be presentable, in the middle of the conservation area," he said.

Boundary issue

"We need to talk to the new owners of the property on the island, because there is a boundary issue there.

"Where does the highway verge end and the curtilage of the property begin?"

He suggested asking Malvern Hills Highways Partnership to clear the verge and footpath and remove a tree growing out of the kerb.

Even after being assured that traffic cones would be placed around the island, chairman Andy Lamb said he was not sure he wanted to stand on the edge of the island with a paint brush in his hand.

"Would it be a prudent way of spending parish council money to get someone to paint it?" he asked.

It was agreed that the council should pay someone to do the painting if the Highways partnership would supply the paint.