WORCESTER'S opposition Labour Party is being challenged to reveal its intentions over a £10.4 million swimming pool - with the city council's deputy leader claiming they are "silent" on it.

Conservative Councillor Marc Bayliss, the deputy leader, says come the elections the public should know where the other side of the chamber stands.

As your Worcester News revealed last year, the current Tory administration intends to build an eight-lane, competition standard facility at Perdiswell by transforming the current site.

The opposition Labour group has already said it would bring the project back to full council for a fresh vote if it wrestles back control of the authority.

Cllr Bayliss, who is also cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: "They have remained very silent on the pool, so much so that this big issue is now a real elephant in the room.

"I want to know, and I'm sure the people of Worcester want to know what secret plans do they have, why aren't they talking publicly about this?

"I believe they want to actually downgrade it.

"So much work has gone into this and the tender is going out very soon, all the design work has already been completed.

"They should tell us what their intentions are."

The control of the city council is on a knife-edge, with 17 Tories and 15 Labour politicians.

Labour were actually in control for 12 months until last June, with the Conservatives now in charge with a minority administration propped up by the Mayor Councillor Alan Amos.

Despite the council's 'hung' status a top-of-the-range pool was voted through last October and bosses are still aiming to open it before the end of next year, with the Sansome Walk site then due to be demolished.

The Labour group has already called for it to return to full council for a fresh vote once the final funding package is in place.

At the time of October's crunch vote there were, and still are concerns about the affordability.

To see what was said during the debate last autumn, when it was voted through 18-16 despite opposition from Labour, lone Green Councillor Neil Laurenson and the single Lib Dem Liz Smith, click here.

Councillor Adrian Gregson, Labour group leader, said:"I haven't given it a great deal of thought recently but we've already made our views on this clear.

"When we were in control we didn't actually do anything to jeopardise the swimming pool at all."

As your Worcester News has reported at length over the last two years, previous options included £13.5 million on an eight-lane 'new build' or £10.7 million on a 'new build' six lane facility.

The new cost is cheaper because it does not involve demolishing the current Perdiswell Leisure Centre, but instead extending and revamping it.