THE owner of the remains of a medieval tower in Kidderminster who rescued it from ruin has had rate charges waived by grateful council chiefs.

Members of Wyre Forest District Council's executive committee agreed discretionary rate relief of 100 per cent for Caldwall Tower, Castle Road, which is owned by businessman Richard Davies.

The gross rates are £322.50 and the cost to Wyre Forest taxpayers will be around £80 a year under the move which will see the tower reclassified as a museum.

In a report to the committee last Thursday, head of finance Keith Bannister said: "Mr Davies purchased the property from the district council in 1998 and has since spent some considerable time, effort and money on repairs.

"These works have now reached such a stage that it may be opened to the public and the valuation officer has reassessed for rating purposes."

He added Mr Davies' aims included opening the castle to the public, where possible, free of charge especially to people in the Kidderminster area; to exhibit materials to promote awareness of the history of the building, "locally and nationally" and to promote the castle as an educational resource.