THE newest recruit to Malvern Hills Conservators says that proposals for a cable car on the Worcestershire Beacon are unlikely to succeed, given the Acts of Parliament which governs the organisation.

Richard Bartholomew has been elected as a member of the Conservators' board for the Link ward, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Clive Smith.

Mr Smith resigned because he had become a director of Malvern For All, the not-for-profit company which is promoting the cable-car project.

Mr Bartholomew was one of five candidates to stand for the vacancy, and in the polling, he gained 199 votes, beating Susan Dalley (133), Geoffrey Hirst (130), Fiona Peet (56) and Jonathan Radburn (64). The total turn-out was 586 out of an electorate of 4,916, or 11.92 per cent.

A social worker who comes originally from the London area, Mr Bartholomew moved to the area 29 years ago and has come to know the Malvern Hills and the surrounding area well by walking, running and cycling. He currently lectures in social work at the Heart of Worcestershire College.

He said: "I believe that the approach the Conservators take towards the cable car is the right one, and from my reading of the Malvern Hills Acts of Parliament, there simply is no way that the cable car can be built."

Since Malvern For All disclosed its project, the stated position of the Conservators has been that the parliamentary acts rule out any kind of building on the Hills, which Malvern For All has disputed.

Mr Bartholomew, who has served as a trustee of a national charity and has studied charity law, said: "Malvern For All have their own opinion of the law, but I think that's the opinion of one person."

Earlier this year, the Conservators voted 21-0 with one abstention to reject the plan at a crowded meeting, and were applauded by onlookers for their decision. However, Malvern For All reaffirmed its intent to find ways to press ahead with the project.