AS the demolition and reconstruction of Upton's Hill Centre began this week, plans were already being made for its future management.

A community association with charitable status has managed the building since 1992, when Malvern Hills District Council agreed to retain part of the former school as a leisure centre.

The centre's crumbling buildings will be replaced with new offices, a meeting room, playgroup and changing rooms.

All are being built around the original sports hall.

But Upton Town Council has rejected the idea of taking it over because it serves a wider area of the district, so MHDC will continue to own it.

MHDC administrative director Kevin Douglas said it was hoped to revitalise the management committee, which has dwindled amid uncertainty over the future of the centre.

The council proposes to sub-lease the centre to a community association, which would be responsible for the management.

Mr Douglas said: "They would become the district council's agents and would be responsible for business rates of about £8,000 on the site but they would get 80 per cent relief as a charity and could apply to MHDC for the other 20 per cent.

"We could plough that back into the running costs of the centre and the management could have a charging policy reflecting social and community needs."

An open meeting for users of the Hill Centre and others interested in its future management will be held at Upton Memorial Hall in the next few weeks, on a date still to be announced.

Officers from the district council will be on hand to advise on the terms of a management agreement, budgeting and building maintenance. It is hoped to have everything in place by the time building work is completed, so that the new management can take over in January 2002.