A Government Minister has called for a halt to controversial legal proceedings between a further education conglomerate and Malvern Hills District Council.

The request follows meetings that Harriett Baldwin MP had with Education Minister Robert Halfon to urge the Department to intervene to prevent the local council having to spend taxpayers’ money defending a decision to protect teaching at the now-closed Malvern Hills College site.

The council is facing legal proceedings after Warwickshire College Group decided to challenge the covenant put in place by the council to protect teaching at the historic site.

Harriett has repeatedly called for the Group’s management to negotiate a settlement and allow a community-led bid to proceed, saving the college for future generations of learners.

Harriett said:

“I’ve been reaching out to all parties to try and reach a negotiated settlement and I met with the Minister to ask him to intervene.

“I was troubled that an educational organisation wanted to challenge Malvern Hills District Council in court. This cannot be the best use of taxpayers’ money for this to end in court.

“I am pleased that the Government is willing to intervene, and I repeat the Minister’s message that Warwickshire College Group should return to the negotiating table and do a deal to save Malvern Hills College for the future.”