TAXPAYERS look set to foot the bill for the Droitwich Lido as plans for its redevelopment finally take a step forward.

Wychavon Leisure has been in exclusive talks with Wychavon District Council since the withdrawal of Thermae Ltd at the start of last month.

But in a speech to the council's executive board on Tuesday night, chairman Councillor Martin Jennings said the company did not have any substantial funds.

Instead he proposed that the council should pay for the work on the facility and Wychavon Leisure should run it.

"Wychavon Leisure does not have large capital resources so we will need to provide the majority of the funding," he said.

Wychavon Leisure - which ran the Lido before its closure in 2001 - originally proposed to reopen it and add a number of new leisure facilities in stages.

An evaluation is now being made of this and other options, which have not yet been revealed.

But whatever development is chosen, it has already been agreed that the Lido should be opened for at least 20 weeks instead of the 12 weeks it operated before its closure.

This will mean either heating the pool or providing a cover.

The council is hoping this will attract more customers ensuring maximum benefits to taxpayers and users.

"An architect has been approached to provide an initial assessment of the condition of the buildings, to prepare outline designs and to provide a cost assessment of the proposed works," said Coun Jennings.

"In parallel to this, the cost of replacing or refurbishing the pool plant is being assessed and an outline business case is also being prepared."

This will come as good news to the people of Wychavon who have been without the facility since 2001 when it was closed because the council faced a repair bill of around £100,000.

"I was absolutely delighted to hear the comments made by the council. All I want is for the Lido to be up and running in one form or another and I am sure the people of Wychavon feel the same," said district and Droitwich town councillor Graham Gopsill, who has fought a long-running battle to have the facility reopened.

It is not yet clear if the Lido will be opened next year.