THERE is a long tradition of ideas for making it easier for people to get to the top of the Malvern Hills, and 50 years ago, it was the turn of Malvern Hills Conservators to throw their hats in the ring, according to the Gazette.

"Malvern Hills Conservators on Monday approved the idea of making land available for a chair lift to the Worcestershire Beacon, subject to certain conditions," reported the paper.

"The route proposed is from the southern end of Rose Bank Gardens, up Rushy Valley to a point about 50 feet below the Beacon, where the engine house would be built into the hill.

"Mr L P Layton said a number of alternatives had been considered, and it had been agreed a starting point from the town centre is best."

Among the alternatives was putting it on the west side of the Beacon, with a starting point at the West of England Quarry, but this was dismissed because the location was ill-served by bus routes, and because the town centre was where tourists would be, after all.