TWO of Malvern’s most prominent community assets could be taken over and maintained by the town council in the future.

Belle Vue Island in the centre of Great Malvern and Sling Lane Playing Fields are currently owned and kept by Malvern Hills District Council.

But the district council has asked the town council to consider taking on both these public amenities.

The town council already plants and maintains the floral displays on the island but if it owned the island it would also be responsible for the structures, trees, monuments and retaining walls.

In a report to the town council’s operations committee, town clerk Richard Chapman says: “The maintenance of Belle Vue Island is likely to cost £10,171, which excludes the bedding displays already budgeted for by the town council. The transfer has not been included in the 2009/10 budget. Realistically, the town council is not in a position to have the asset transferred until April 2010.”

He says both Belle Vue Island and Sling Lane Playing Fields could be maintained by the council’s current operations staff providing it buys more efficient machinery, which is already in next year’s budget.

The transfer of Sling Lane could help solve the council’s problem of finding more land for allotments as the council could apply for planning permission to use part of the area for allotments.

Mr Chapman is recommending the council enters negotiations with the district council over transferring the assets but that planning permission for change of use of part of the playing fields is secured before the council takes on Sling Lane.

The committee meets on Tuesday to discuss that issue as well as the £90,000 refurbishment of Victoria Park children’s play area and the maintenance of Malvern Library forecourt.