A WORCESTER councillor has made a plea for the old Sansome Walk swimming pool to not became a housing plot, urging city leaders: "Don't throw it away".
Councillor Alan Feeney says the crumbling site is large enough to feature both green open space and a car park.
The Conservative, who tried to become the area's county councillor earlier this month, says it would be a "far better use" of the land once the 1960s pool is demolished.
It comes as Worcester City Council's new-look committee system prepares to look at the site's future once again in the coming weeks.
Back in January councillors decided to trigger a fresh investigation into all possible uses of the land.
This newspaper understands a new report on all the options is expected to be made public in July, and it will reveal how at least £400,000 of taxpayers' money must be spent first in order to get it ready for any fresh use.
The bill could rise to £600,000 if it becomes a housing plot.
Cllr Feeney said: "We have a real chance to put this precious site to use as a benefit to the community, rather than throwing it away.
"That land is extremely valuable for any use - I want to see that value maximised by having pay-and-display parking during the day with free resident's parking at night.
"This would then be followed up by making the worst affected streets in the Arboretum 'resident only'.
"We can then use parts of the site to create a new ‘green lung’ for everyone to enjoy."
He has also taken some pictures of the parking problems in the area, saying it is all the more reason to have car parking on the land.
A pay-and-display would bring in significant cash to the council, at a time when it is under serious financial pressure.
It comes despite a plea from some residents for the former pool to become housing, led by activist Jane Moorhouse, chair of Arboretum Residents Association.
Last night, she said: "This is political mischief.
"We'd only support a car park if it was purely for residents only, but the council wouldn't give it to residents for free.
"Some of it would have to be a public car park, which would cause chaos in the area because people would drive around first looking for a free space.
"We are resolute on this - we want it to be housing."
The council's old Labour cabinet wanted it to become housing, backed by Green politicians too, but progress stalled after the scrutiny committee triggered the fresh investigation back in January.
The site is currently all boarded up and awaiting demolition, with swimming now taking place at the new £10.5 million Perdiswell pool.
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