THE leader of Worcester City Council has issued a rallying call over making the "right decision" on a new swimming pool - and insists it can afford an eight-lane facility.

Councillor Simon Geraghty has piled the pressure on rival parties by saying it will come down to "a straightforward political choice" come the end of the month.

He also says with south Worcestershire set to have another 28,000 homes by 2030 the city needs a bigger pool to last another 50 years.

As your Worcester News revealed yesterday, the Tory leadership wants to rip up plans for a six-lane, £7.7 million pool at Perdiswell in favour of going all out on a £10.4 million facility.

Because the administration is a minority one, it will need support from outside the party to get it through council.

The more expensive option is expected to be funded in a variety of ways including a loan, a possible grant of up to £2 million from Sport England, around £500,000 from selling Sansome Walk pool and some cash from the £3.1 million sale of its Orchard House HQ complex to the University of Worcester.

Cllr Geraghty said: "This city will be serving a hinterland which is significantly bigger than now, we're looking at 28,000 new homes in south Worcestershire by 2030.

"This is a straightforward political choice for the council, we need to be ambitious and make sure we've got a pool which will last 40 or 50 years - it needs to meet future needs rather than just the present.

"I think Worcester can afford an eight-lane pool, it's the right thing to do in taking the city where we needs it be."

Back in 2012 the council voted through proposals for a new £13 million, eight-lane pool by demolishing Perdiswell Leisure Centre and building an entirely new facility.

In June last year the Tories were ousted from power in a Labour coup, and the plans were dramatically scaled down in favour of a £7.7 million, six-lane facility.

But the new idea relies on extending the Perdiswell site by building a new wing, making it cheaper.

Worcester Swimming Club, meanwhile, has welcomed the fresh stance.

Chairman Simon Richards said: "This is exciting news and we are pleased to hear the council are still keen to provide the best possible new pool for Worcester.

"There is still much work to do and we must wait for a final decision from the full council.

"A new pool is a once in a generation opportunity for any city."