THE demolition of a closed swimming pool could cost far more than originally thought because of newly found asbestos, according to a county councillor.

Cllr Matthew Jenkins, who represents the St Stephen division, said the demolition of Worcester's Sansome Walk pool may now cost hundreds of thousands of pounds more.

Specialists recently found higher levels of asbestos-containing material in the building - and nearby rubble - than previously expected.

He warned about the impact this could have on plans, by YMCA Worcestershire and Sanctuary Housing, to build a housing project at the site.

The councillor said: "The demolition cost is already over £1million. It could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds more now.

"The demolition will now take longer than expected and that [Sanctuary and YMCA] project will be delayed - if they are still going ahead with it.

"The YMCA will have to vacate its building in Henwick Road at some point. There is a question over whether the new YMCA building will open before the current centre closes.

"Hopefully it will all go ahead because otherwise that site will be an empty plot, waiting for someone else to come along."

Cllr Jenkins added that residents said the closed swimming pool site was becoming a hub for drug dealing, at an Arboretum Residents' Association meeting on November 12.

Jane Moorhouse, secretary of the association, questioned why the recently discovered asbestos was not found earlier.

She added: "Given the delays due to them finding more asbestos, the general feeling of the meeting was why didn't the original survey find it? We are concerned that taxpayers' money wasn't well spent as the survey didn't pick up on it."

City councillor Joy Squires, who represents the Arboretum, previously told locals the YMCA housing planned for the site would not be a 'homeless hostel'.

She said the 76 flats would be for single people in employment, training or self-employed, who can’t afford rents in the private market.

There will also be 22 shared ownership homes built at the site, under the plans.

However, Jonathan Sutton, the head of St Paul's Hostel, responded to this by questioning where the formerly homeless residents at the Henwick Road YMCA centre would live after it closes.

It is due to shut by December 2019 to become student housing.

YMCA and Sanctuary Housing were unavailable for comment.