A WORCESTER councillor has criticised the uncertainty around the future of Sansome Walk swimming pool's land - reiterating her concern about it becoming a car park.

Councillor Joy Squires, the deputy leader of the city's Labour group, has called for clarity over the site's prospects.

The crumbling pool building is due to be demolished once the new facility opens at Perdiswell in 2017, with the land earmarked for 33 homes under the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

But as your Worcester News revealed earlier this year, the Conservative administration is eyeing up the land as possible lucrative pay and display car park.

Councillor Squires now says she fears the SWDP losing credibility if the site, surrounded by terraced streets, does become a car park.

She mentioned it twice during a Worcester City Council meeting this week - challenging the leadership to make its position clear.

She said: "In the SWDP documents, on page 92 it says 'indicative number of dwellings, 33' for Sansome Walk.

"Are you willing to let this go through, wait for the plan to be signed off by an inspector, then do what you like afterwards?

"In which case this plan holds no weight whatsoever, because quite clearly it says in it '33 homes'."

If the land is sold to a developer it would give the authority a seven-figure one-off windfall, plus council tax from the homes eventually built at the Sansome Walk site.

On the other hand, a council-owned car park would bring in constant revenue to the coffers.

During extensive public consultation with residents living in the area's nearby streets, led by Councillor Squires, homes has been the overwhelming preferred option.

During the full council debate Councillor Chris Mitchell, the cabinet member for finance, said "nothing had changed" because staff had been busy focusing on getting the best possible deal for the new swimming pool.

He added: "We are considering our options because we always try and get, wherever possible, the best value for money possible for the taxpayer.

"If that means housing, then it'll be housing."

The SWDP is expected to be signed off by an inspector and adopted early next year, earmarking land in Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon for 28,370 homes by 2030.