A NOMINATION to list a woodland threatened by development as an Asset of Community Value has been turned down by Malvern Hills District Council.

Malvern Community Forest applied to the council to list Langdale Wood, off Blackmore Park Road, under the scheme, which gives communities and individuals the opportunity to bid for buildings and land important to them.

Langdale Wood came to public notice last year when the Counties Agricultural Society applied to build 50 holiday lodges on the site.

Following concerted opposition from nature-lovers and dog-walkers, the plan was rejected in January.

But last week, the Malvern Gazette revealed that the society has submitted a new application for 40 lodges.

If the Asset of Community Value application had been successful, Malvern Community Forest would have been granted six months to come up with a bid for the woodland if the society decided to sell it. However, the nomination failed to meet the criteria needed.

According to the district council, there was "only limited evidence to demonstrate the woodland would further the social interest or well-being of the community as a whole, now and in the future, as required by the act".

It also noted that while the woodland had been used informally by the public over a number of years, it was privately owned and there was no evidence that permission had ever been granted for general public access.

Cllr Jeremy Owenson said: “We judge each nomination fairly and impartially, and on this occasion there was not enough evidence to meet the criteria set out by law to list Langdale Wood as an Asset of Community Value.

“However, we have spoken with Three Counties Agricultural Society and we are delighted that they have agreed to meet with the community to discuss the future of the woods."