LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO change the way the Malvern Hills are managed has been paused and cannot be resumed without further debate in the House of Lords.
The Malvern Hills Bill ran out of time in the last Parliament and a motion to carry the legislation over for further debate in the House of Lords has been blocked by an objection.
A committee of Lords has proposed a series of amendments to the legislation but the Bill cannot proceed to its Third Reading in the House of Lords without formal approval.
Both Houses are now in recess and the House of Lords will resume its work in September.
Dame Harriett said: “Dozens of local people have written to me to express their views on the Bill. I’ve also frequently met with both the Trust and the petitioners to hear their arguments.
“Parliament is now in recess and their Lordships will determine whether the Bill should proceed. I am told that this debate could be scheduled for the autumn, probably October, but in the meantime, the Malvern Hills Trust continues to accrue legal costs.
“This is a complicated process but I remain in close contact with the Bill Clerks and I have been updating constituents about the state of play.
“The Trustees need to confirm that they still have a majority of Trustees who wish to continue to proceed despite the extra costs incurred. My own view is that this should happen in a public meeting with a further vote.”