In the reply, it is made clear that as a members' organisation, the Civil Service Sports Council is obliged to sell the freehold of surplus assets at the best price regarding the circumstances.
The situation about the original transfer of the site from the MOD to the CSSC in 1985 is also clarified. Apparently, the transfer at that time was done at open market value, according to the District Valuer at that time.
A covenant was put in place for 20 years with the MOD, whereby the CSSC was contracted to pay 100% of the increase in land value arising from the grant of planning permission during that period.
Harriett Baldwin said, "I am afraid this is not good news for the Malvern site's chances. The Civil Service Sports Council will have to sell to the highest bidder. The 20 year MOD covenant expired in 2005, creating an incentive for the Council to close the Malvern club down to profit from the land value increase. I am sure it is not a concidence that the club is being closed down shortly after the covenant expired. I think the burden now falls on the District Council and the planners to see what they can do to ensure that the sale of Malvern's great community asset continues to benefit the Town in some way."