The death knell has been sounded for the Sansome Walk swimming pool in Worcester.

Councillors on Worcester City’s planning committee gave unanimous approval to knock down the building, it has been empty since December 16.

There are plans afoot to use the site for a housing development run by the YMCA – but that has not yet been approved and some residents are against the scheme, preferring that the land is used for car parking.

The means by which the building will be demolished has not yet been determined.

The fabric of the building contains asbestos, and councillors on the committee were told the public would be kept informed on how the demolition will take place in order to ensure no danger to nearby residents from the asbestos.

Some had written to the council’s planning department to express their concerns.

The matter had to be decided by the committee because the city council owns the site.