A £3M REFURBISHMENT of a dilapidated Worcester school has been criticised as too little too late' by a city councillor.

Plans have been in the pipeline for some years to expand Christopher Whitehead Language College on Bromwich Road, St John's, following an education review in the late 90s.

We revealed in June this year how Worcestershire County Council agreed to inject £3m into a two-year refurbishment of the existing school as an interim measure while its future was resolved, with possible plans to move it to the city's outskirts.

However, speaking at a meeting of the county council's overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday, city and county councillor Jo Hodges criticised the move.

She added: "I feel quite passionate about it - this situation has gone on for some time now and the school has been allowed to deteriorate.

"We've now been told we've got to wait until 2012 which means we'll have had three lots of children who've gone through that school in a building which is less than satisfactory.

"It just seems we're in a desperate situation putting £3m into it because I could just see that money being spent on a wall or something."

Coun Hodges' comments come as the council's head of property services Malcolm Williams revealed work could start shortly on a £1.5m revamp of the science laboratories as part of the refurbishment.

Mr Williams stressed that, while the move to an alternative site was preferred, they had not completely dismissed rebuilding at the current location. A decision is expected to be made in 2008, with the new school not due to be completed until 2012.

Headteacher Neil Morris said: "I'm delighted to get any money for education whatsoever. It'll make a significant difference as we'll have 21st Century science laboratories.

"It's a significant amount of money and we've been assured by everybody if it's decided it's staying where it is there'll be a substantial further investment."

Council officers met with senior figures at the school in July to draw up a shopping list' of works, with the key areas including the science labs, changing rooms and English rooms.

In June it was resolved the authority's overview and scrutiny committee would investigate to ensure it was getting value for money in the investment.

Over the last few years both Tesco and Sainsbury's were involved with discussions to buy land on or near the current site and money would have been used to build a new school, most notably at Earls Court Farm, outside the city boundary.

However a public inquiry two-and-a-half years ago ruled against the move.