COMMUNITY leaders are preparing to spend £50,000 from the public purse to ensure ambitious plans for the Lido Pool are legally sound.

Wychavon District Council has teamed up with private company Calypso to create a multi-million pound spa centre at the Lido Park, in Droitwich Spa.

The authority will stump up £500,000 and grant a 99-year lease to the Anglo-German company.

At last night's full council meeting, members were asked to allocate a further £50,000 to pay for independent legal advisors needed to study the plans.

Public consultations are not expected until November.

Campaigners who have been sceptical about moves to revamp the historic site, off Worcester Road, believe Wychavon should let residents have their say before allocating taxpayers' cash.

Droitwich: Save Our Lido Today (SALT) spokesman David Parkinson said: "I understand the authority has legal requirements to fulfil but now is not the time to start setting cash aside -- residents haven't even seen what could be built.

"I'm interested to know how and when the public will be consulted - I believe Droitwich Spa Town Council should call a parish poll."

Wychavon councillor Don Lawley (Con, Droit.South) said: "We're trying to get our house in order because if residents are happy with the blueprints, we want to move swiftly. The cash is simply being earmarked."

Wychavon's community partnership manager, Tim Deakin, said: "If this proposal progresses, the council needs to ensure its, and the public's position is protected."

He added that by setting the £50,000 aside, the authority is not committing to the scheme, just identifying a budgetary need.

The authority was also seeking approval from members to allow the council to enter a formal partnership with Calypso.

Lido campaigner and ex-town mayor Graham Gopsill said: "When Labour and Lib Dem councillors voted in favour of the Lido plans I lost all faith in them and I doubt they will even pick up on this £50,000 allocation."