MALVERN Wells Parish Council has been forced to rethink plans to take on the ownership of the Jubilee Fountain.

The parish had been in talks with Malvern Hills District Council to take over responsibility for the historic monument with a view to restoring it.

But discussions with the Land Registry have revealed that the site is actually owned by the Diocese of Worcester, as it was originally handed over to the care of the vicar and churchwarden of nearby St Peter's Church.

St Peter's closed in the early 1990s and was declared redundant by the diocese, subsequently being converted to flats.

The council has the option of approaching the Diocese of Worcester and restarting ownership discussions.

But instead it favours a joint project with the Malvern Spa Association, which has been formed to promote and preserve the area's water heritage. The parish council now plans to write to the association, asking it to seek a lease of the fountain from the diocese.

The Spa Association could then apply for a grant from a source such as the National Lottery to restore the fountain to its former glory. The parish council would in turn award a grant to the Spa Association towards the restoration project.

The fountain stands on the corner of Wells Road and Grundy's Lane and was built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It is still part of the community and has been 'dressed' by volunteers in recent years as part of the Malvern Hills well-dressing event in September.