PLANS for a £0.5 million upgrade to a playground in the centre of Malvern have been approved by the district council.

The upgrade for the Priory Park play area include a splash-pad style water area, following a consultation with the public about what they would prefer.

It was included in Malvern Hills District Council's budget for 2019/20 which was approved by 24 votes to four with one abstention on Tuesday night

But the expenditure was criticised by opposition leader Sarah Rouse, who said that the money could be better spent elsewhere.

She said: ""This money could have been used to invest in sites for economic growth to help local business, to help with education and training, to support apprenticeships and directly impact on the number of local employers who can afford to take on an apprentices. We could focus on life skills training for young people and expand our keep-active work with residents .

"But most importantly we could support mental health, fund the strategy for homelessness and finance community transport groups to tackle social isolation and get young people to their apprenticeships.

"Whilst I am sure the splash pad will be great for those with young children in summer, we could have had some great equipment in the park and also supported our other priorities .

"To spend half a million on this seems inappropriate when we have people having to use foodbanks and homeless young people on our streets."

Council leader David Chambers said: “The public gave us a very clear vision for the future of the play area and we’ve listened and come up with an exciting design that delivers on their wishes."

The approved budget will mean MHDC's council tax precept will be £4,878,853, equivalent to £157.60 fro a Band D property.

But when the county council, fire and police authorities and other precepts are added on. the Band D total comes to £1,790.78.

Cllr Rouse said: "It is disappointing that we have had to ask residents for the maximum increase possible. But with government cuts and a Conservative group in control that refuses to work cross-party to look how we can as a council do things better we were put in a situation where we had no choice."