THE future of a bus terminus in Malvern Wells remains uncertain after the parish council turned down a chance to take over responsibility for it.

The terminus - a bus shelter and disused toilets on a small amount of land - was originally offered to the parish by its current owners, Malvern Hills District Council, three or four years ago.

At that time the parish council expressed an interest but, since seeking a professional opinion on the state of the building from an architect and builder, it has now declined the offer.

Although the main structure of the terminus, at the far end of Malvern Wells at its junction with Upper Welland Road, was found to be basically sound, a survey showed problems with the condition of timbers and sewers.

"We concluded that we couldn't recommend that the parish council take over the building in its present condition," said Coun Brian Wilcock, chairman of the parish's finance and general purposes committee.

"I think personally that it's sad if these places rot away, I'd like to see it go on, but the district council has messed us about to the point where we've got to say enough is enough."

Coun Mike Pollard agreed, suggesting that the parish should go back to MHDC with a copy of the inspection report and make it clear it no longer wanted to take it over.

"Quite seriously we could be taking on a bundle of trouble," he said.

Coun Jan Bowden added: "I'm not clear what we would be doing with it anyway and as it now appears to be a can of worms with an uncertain future I'm a little worried and would like to step away from it."

MHDC's estates valuation manager Richard Allison said that although there were no longer public toilets at the terminus, the building was still used as a bus shelter, which was a parish council function not a district council one.

He said that work had been carried out on the building but, after learning of the parish council's decision, added: "If that it's genuine we do need to decide what to do with it."