WYCHAVON District Council is in negotiations to sell land near Evesham Leisure Centre which could be turned into a hotel and restaurant.

Deputy managing director Vic Allison has been authorised to agree the terms of sale with an unnamed potential buyer of the land.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of Wychavon District Council last month where members were told that an offer had been received for the 1.35 acres, next to the new leisure centre on Abbey Road, near the Wychavon depot.

The land is deemed surplus to requirements and has been owned by the local authority for many years. A potential purchaser has now been identified and negotiation of terms are ongoing.

At the meeting in March the council also agreed that this particular case should be exempt from the usual financial regulations which would normally require the sale of land to be subject to competitive bids.

It is thought the site would make a good location for a hotel and restaurant due to its siting near the riverside and central position.

Meanwhile, with the prospect of a new venue in town, there is still no sign of a derelict hotel further down river being given a new lease of life. The Park View Hotel on Waterside has been described as an eyesore by councillors and it is a year since plans to redevelop the hotel were thrown out by Wychavon. DR Securities (Evesham) Ltd’s proposal to turn the hotel, and land behind it, into 23 homes and three offices was rejected due to flood risk.