West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has urged local residents to share their views as Malvern Hills Trust publishes a Bill to change its governance.

The MP has had representations from many local people and organisations and has also met regularly with the Malvern Hills Trust to discuss the legislation.

The Bill seeks to amend the existing legislation first introduced in 1884 set up to protect the Malvern Hills. It is the world’s first legislation enacted specifically to protect the natural environment.  The Trust has the power to levy local residents to support its work and local people have a vote to elect Trustees.

The Malvern Hills Bill has been introduced in Parliament and will be checked by experts in a public session this Wednesday (December 18). It will have its formal first reading on January 6, before people are allowed to submit views on the Bill between January 22 and January 30.

Local people can watch the Bill go through the examination process by logging on to www.parliamentlive.tv/guide or by visiting Committee Room 2 in Parliament from 11am in person.

Dame Harriett said:

“The Malvern Hills are our greatest local asset and the vision of our forefathers over a century ago has successfully preserved them for us today.  It is vital that any changes to the legislation, including the well-intentioned desire to simplify and rationalise the legislation that protects our precious Hills does not have any unforeseen or unintended consequences. 

“I have met with the Trust’s leadership and a number of people and groups raising questions about these governance changes. The Bill has started its legislative journey, and I am encouraging people to watch proceedings either in person or online and also to visit the Malvern Hills Trust to read the Bill to understand how these changes will impact how we protect the precious Malvern Hills.

“The changes in governance have generated lots of opinion and I am confident that people will want to make their points to Parliament to make sure legislators hear their views.

“There’s only a narrow window to petition Parliament in January so I urge people to look at the Bill and share their views with the Bill’s clerks.”