THE cost of resurfacing a car park in Malvern has shot up because of the recent rise in oil prices.

Malvern Town Council had allocated £4,000 for Bowling Green car park to be resurfaced but members of the council's operations committee will be told that the most competitive quote for the work was £6,860.

According to town clerk Richard Chapman, this is due to a 50 per cent increase in the price of tarmacadam in the wake of oil price rises. In his report to the committee which meets on Tuesday, July 18, he says: "The Bowling Green car park is currently gravelled and is in a state of disrepair. This is encouraging weed, debris and it consistently needs repair."

The committee is being asked to consider whether to recommend a £2,860 overspend or resurfacing half the car park to keep within its budget.

Mr Chapman added: "The overall costs would be greater than the price quoted when the work is eventually completed."