WORCESTER’S new Labour leadership has insisted there is “no delay” over a swimming pool decision for the city - amid fresh claims they are “dithering”.

Councillor Adrian Gregson, the city council’s leader, has hit out at critics who suggest the multi-million pound scheme could be held back.

He also says the decision will not be taken by the Labour cabinet, but in a vote before full council by June next year.

It comes after fresh calls from the Conservative group for a vote to be held before next year’s elections, with group leader Coun Simon Geraghty insisting he wants it done by April.

Coun Gregson said: “A report on this will come back to us in April 2014, and because it will be after the last council meeting of the (municipal) year, the only opportunity to discuss it will be afterwards.

“The annual council meeting in May, I don’t believe, is the right place to discuss an issue of this importance as it tends to be a ceremonial occasion.

“So therefore, the first opportunity will be June 2014, and there has not been any change on that anticipated date.”

Coun Geraghty, who has accused his opponent of “dithering”, said: “The Government intends to push back next year’s local elections to June to tie in with the European elections, and if that happens we won’t even get a decision on this in June.

“It’s perfectly possible to have it in April, so the voters know where you stand, and that’s what we want to see.”

Coun Gregson said Tory jibes about delays were "incorrect", and insisted the administration is following a timetable laid out by officers.

The new Labour administration is holding a review of the entire project because the council is £5.2m short of being able to fund a £13.5m, eight-lane facility fit to host competitions.

But the leadership says the end target of having a new pool open by February 2016 is still a valid one, despite the review.

As your Worcester News previously reported, the authority has an alternative option of a scaled-down, six-lane pool costing £7.7m, of which there is a £192,000 shortfall.

Under the proposals, it would be built on land at Perdiswell, by the existing leisure centre, which would be demolished, as well as the Sansome Walk facility.

Both options require borrowing, of either £7.7m or £10m, paid back over 40 years at a four per cent interest rate.