Malvern Hills Act 1995

The Malvern Hills Act 1995 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that governs the use of the geographical area known as the Malvern Hills located at and near the town of Malvern, Worcestershire, England. It is primarily intended to enact measures to maintain the ecology and environment of the area in the 21st Century and also includes clauses concerning the building known as St Ann's Well and the provision of other refreshment facilities.[2][3][4][5]

Malvern Hills Act 1995[1]
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to amend certain enactments relating to the Malvern Hills Conservators and the management of the Malvern Hills; to confer further powers on the Malvern Hills Conservators; to make further provision in relation to the Malvern Hills; and for other purposes.
Citation1995 c. iii
Dates
Royal assent28 June 1995
Text of statute as originally enacted

Background edit

The Beacon cafe, a café that had existed on the summit of Worcestershire Beacon for many decades, was destroyed by fire in 1989.[6] The Conservators had plans to replace the building but were advised that they risked prosecution for rebuilding as the original cafe building was an encroachment on common land. The Malvern Hills Bill was in preparation to modernise some of the clauses in previous acts a clause was inserted to gain authority to rebuild the cafe. Five members of the House of Lords Select Committee visited the Malvern Hills and decided that there were enough facilities in the immediate area and that St Ann's Well cafe should be enough provision on the hills, so the application to rebuild was turned down.[7][8][4][5] The cost of implementing the 1995 Act was approximately £250,000.[9]

Overview edit

The 1995 Act gave the Malvern Hills Conservators further powers to:

  • Purchase or lease buildings off their land and refurbish them for use as offices, information centres and residential accommodation for employees;
  • Dispose of land by sale, exchange or letting;
  • Increase the number of refreshment stalls permitted on their land from three to six;
  • Set aside money from their general fund to create a fund to purchase further land;
  • Grant easements;
  • Impose fines under the Byelaws;
  • Restrict public access to their land, in consultation with other bodies, for a reasonable period to protect ancient monuments, sites of natural beauty, trees and flora and fauna and in the interests of public safety;
  • Regulate horse riding;
  • Remove placards, abandoned machinery and vehicles and to dispose of them after a specified period;
  • Permit temporary lavatories for special events.[2]

See also edit

Malvern Hills Conservators

References edit

  1. ^ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 1 of this Act.
  2. ^ a b "Acts of Parliament Affecting the Malverns". Malvern Hills Conservators. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  3. ^ Malvern Hills Act 1995 c. iii Malvern Hills Act 1995
  4. ^ a b "Malvern Hills Bill 1993". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Millbank Systems. 8 March 1993. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Malvern Hills Bill 1994". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Millbank Systems. 15 February 1994. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Fire puts end to restored Beacon cafe". Malvern Gazette. Newsquest. 19 September 2003. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Impossible idea". Malvern Gazette. Newsquest. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  8. ^ "History re-written". Malvern Gazette. Newsquest. 24 December 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Conservators' reform would need Act of Parliament". Malvern Gazette. Newsquest. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2012.

External links edit