RATEPAYERS are furious with Malvern Town Council for succeeding in its bid to buy a former bank branch building.

It emerged last week that the council won the bidding process for the old NatWest building in Church Street, Malvern.

Town councillors have decided to apply for a loan to help pay for the building, which could become the council's new offices.

A rival bidder vented his frustration with the council for outbidding him, despite his offer being more than £100,000 over the asking price.

Businessman Mike Clarke said: "I rang the local authority ombudsman, I thought to spend that amount of money they have to be accountable. But the ombudsman doesn't cover town and parish councils

"Surely it has to be ratified by the council taxpayers. It appears they are accountable to nobody.

"I don't know how they have got the nerve to carry on [with the purchase] when people are so upset about it

"It beggars belief. I'd like them to have the decision ratified by the taxpayers.

"When I've been in the town one or two people I've been talking to said 'I've seen that article in the Gazette and it's crazy'. Shopkeepers I've spoken to have said the same thing."

Mr Clarke, managing director of local software company AuraQ, offered £376,500 for the building, which had an asking price of £275,000.

He hoped to turn the site into a restaurant with live music and said it would be a waste to use it as an office.

Readers reacted with outrage to the Malvern Gazette's revelation last week that the council won in its bid for the building.

Rhys Haywood, who lives in Malvern, wrote on Facebook: "What a waste. There isn't enough in Malvern town as it is.

"Surely the best interests of the town would be for the building to be sold to someone who could potentially bring more trade and therefore more footfall to the town.

"I thought the council might have seen that as in its best interests. Not to have a building like that to be wasted on some offices."

Nick Houghton has set up a Facebook page to discuss the purchase, which can be accessed on http://bit.ly/2zhUAXU

A Malvern Town Council spokesman previously said: "Occupying this building will allow the Town Council to be much more accessible to the public and so better serve the community of Malvern."

The town council has also been in discussion with Malvern Hills District Council about the future of the Tourist Information Centre (TIC).

Cllr Clive Smith previously said the centre could be moved into the former NatWest building under the plans.

Over 3,500 people have signed a petition against the district council's decision to move the TIC from Church Street to Avenue Road, Malvern.