A SENIOR Worcester Conservative has warned against anyone "misrepresenting" him over Cripplegate Park - saying he will take any means necessary to protect his reputation.

Councillor Andy Roberts, the cabinet member for cleaner and greener, has waded into the debate over outsourcing key services to the private sector by raising the prospect of legal action if politicians step out of line.

As your Worcester News revealed on Monday, over the weekend the city council's Tory leadership said they had phone calls from members of the public suggesting Cripplegate Park was being sold to a private firm.

Four party members decided to confront Worcester Labour Party at the park on Sunday lunchtime over a campaign to stop cleaner and greener services being outsourced to an outside company.

The Tories have openly accused Labour of lying, but Labour is adamant its campaign, called 'Worcester is not for sale', is an accurate portrayal of the proposals.

Under the plan, from 2017 a private firm will take over bin collections, street sweeping and parks and play area maintenance.

Cllr Roberts said: "Cripplegate Park is of extraordinary importance to me - my grandmother lived in Tybridge Street so it gave me my earliest memories.

"Later I went to St Clements School and passed through the park twice a day during school term - now it is where I take my granddaughter and her friends.

"My family are not political types but they, including my mother who is now 95-years-old, were among the 200 or so local people who demonstrated outside the Guildhall when there was a threat to build on it (in the 1990s).

"I've made it clear to officers that even in smaller play areas, if equipment is removed this must not be motivated by the use of land for other purposes.

"This has been confirmed by email and will be available at the point of disclosure during any future legal action.

"If anyone misrepresents me by saying I have called for the closure of any part of Cripplegate Park or been party to this it will be a lie, which will be a grave concern to me.

"In such circumstances I will seek redress by whatever means are available, and I will spare no effort or recourse in doing so."

Labour considers the proposal "privatisation", has rejected any claims it has misled the public and says it will be out petitioning against it down the High Street this weekend.

Labour Richard Udall, who represents St John’s, where Cripplegate Park is located, said: “Twenty years ago I helped St John’s residents save Cripplegate Park.

"The Conservatives have not understood how well loved our parks are - they should withdraw their plans for privatising our parks now."

The issue was also raised during a meeting of the Conservative cabinet last night, when Councillor Marc Bayliss, the deputy leader, said "the city's parks are not for sale, nor have they ever been under this administration".

After the meeting Councillor Adrian Gregson, Labour group leader, said: "By rolling bins, street cleaning, parks and playgrounds into one a very large private company will be needed to do all that.

"Putting all of that into the private sector cannot be right.

"Our parks are very well run with lots of volunteer support and flexible working from the city council."