'THE fight will go on' is what the leader of the Malvern District Council said after hundreds of protesters gathered to save the arts college.

Protesters arrived outside Council House on Avenue Road, Malvern, to campaign about the future of the Malvern Arts College.

They were holding banners begging councillors to 'stand by your covenant' and protect the arts college from permanent closure.

Warwickshire College Group (WCG) is taking Malvern District Council to court because they are refusing to lift a covenant which prevents the college site from being sold for anything other than educational purposes.

Malvern Gazette: Many protesters arrived at Council House in Malvern with their placards. Many protesters arrived at Council House in Malvern with their placards. (Image: NQ)

At the protests, councillor Tom Wells, leader of Malvern Hills District Council, addressed the mass and said it was extraordinary that the council was being taken to court.

He added: "But a word of caution.

"This is not just about money - well, it is about money but about money in an indirect way - if the covenant be removed from this site, then the land value would double and even in that circumstance if we were to lose our litigation in defending the covenant, this is not the end of the story.

"The fight will go on, and anyone from the (Warwickshire) college will need to understand that.

"This will continue until we have the solution we are all looking for.

"Rest assured your voices are being heard and the messages have been understood - save creativity, build community, aid mental health and support history.

"My mother learnt art here under Mr Victor Moody 80 years ago and she will say to me, wherever she is nowadays, get on with it Thomas, sort it out and save our school."

Save Malvern Hills College Group has been trying to buy Malvern Hills College, in Albert Road North, from owners WCG since it closed in 2021.

It had secured the promise of funding from Malvern Hills District Council, Worcestershire County Council and the Bransford Trust, who said they would pay £400,000 each.

Malvern Hills Arts & Community College hoped to start running courses at the site as early as September.

However,  Save Malvern Hills College Group says the Bransford Trust has pulled its financial backing.

Malvern Gazette has contacted WCG for a comment.

In March, a WCG spokesperson said: "We remain open to constructive dialogue and have always been willing to talk to any potential buyer who makes a viable offer which meets the legal obligations placed upon the college group."

One of the organisers, Mary Brittain of Save Malvern Hills College Group, said: "The college was gifted to the town of Malvern and has been here for over a hundred years, it was built as an art college and had huge cultural links.

"It was not often art but something for everybody, and once that is gone, it's gone."