THE village hall was full for Friday's meeting to discuss the current planning application for a development of 23 dwellings at Runnings Park, off Croft Bank. This reflected the high degree of interest and concern in the community surrounding this substantial proposal.

Excellently introduced and chaired by Chris Streatfield, the meeting threw considerable light on the reasons for, details of, and issues surrounding the application for conversion to residential use of the former hotel, restaurant and therapy centre which closed 18 months ago. The application has been made on behalf of the present owners who now wish to sell the property. Concerns centred mainly on the large scale of the scheme: fears of increased traffic through the village, the additional demands on services such as water supply, lack of space at the village school to take extra pupils, the possibility of opening the door to further creeping development and the impact on the landscape of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Others felt that the plans represented a broadly sympathetic conversion of the existing buildings and that alternative uses for the site might be less desirable.

But some opposition was expressed to parts of the plan which would involve additional building beyond the existing complex. Whatever their overall views, the audience undoubtedly left the meeting better informed than before about many aspects of the proposal.

The new 675 Ledbury-Malvern Thursday-Friday-Saturday evening bus service has been well used since its introduction in November, members of the inter-parish 'cluster group' have been told.

Despite being launched over the Christmas and New Year period, the bus has been attracting nearly 50 passengers each evening on Fridays and Saturdays.

Numbers on Thursdays, however have been disappointing. Hopes are high that passenger numbers will increase as the weather improves, days lengthen and the service becomes better known.

Details of a few minor alterations in times and routings of the existing service will be announced at the next timetable change date in April. These will seek to improve passenger convenience in the light of the first few months' experience.

Many favourable comments had been received from users, and overall, group members were pleased with the performance and uptake of the service to date.