MALVERN Town Council has expressed its disappointment after failing to get funding from the Parish Initiatives Fund for a new bus shelter.

The executive committee of Malvern Hills District Council agreed last week to spend £2,000 from the fund on re- erecting busts of Elgar and Jenny Lind at the Malvern Theatres.

But acting town clerk Rosemary Lansdowne had asked the committee to instead put some of the money towards the joint funding of the Church Street bus shelter.

In a letter faxed to MHDC on the Friday before the meeting, she said the existing bus shelter was a focal point within the town centre and its poor condition currently detracted from the visual amenity of the area.

She pointed out the shelter was attached to a wall belonging to MHDC, meaning that it was responsible for its maintenance.

After the subject failed to make it on to the executive committee agenda, Ms Lansdowne said: "This council are a bit unhappy that a parish initiative fund is not going on the parish."

In a letter of reply, MHDC corporate director Kevin Douglas said it would have been improper raising the matter at the meeting without any prior notification or a detailed report.

He added that a request should be put forward so it could be considered along with MHDC's own bids for inclusion in next year's capital programme.

Link Top is to get a new bus shelter after Malvern Hills Conservators gave consent for its construction.

The land management committee has also approved a request by Malvern Town Council for the demolition of the present shelter on Worcester Road and its replacement by a war memorial.

The Conservators' consent was necessary because both the existing and future shelters are on common land in their custody.

The new bus shelter will be built alongside the current bus stop at a cost of nearly £3,000 to Malvern Town Council.

Only 20 metres away, the present shelter will be dismantled and a plaque to victims of both world wars that was originally part of the structure will be given prominence.