A Worcester councillor has called for the public to be involved when the future of County Hall is finally decided.

Matt Jenkins said it will be a “very tough decision” what to do with the building, which currently sits half empty as it is blighted by crumbling concrete.

Cllr Jenkins, who represents the St Stephen division on the county council, asked cabinet member Marcus Hart about the long-term viability of County Hall at a full council meeting on Thursday, May 16.

The meeting was taking place at the Civic Centre in Pershore, as several parts of County Hall have been closed since September when reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was found at the building.

Cllr Hart said council officers have been working with external engineering contractors since September and are currently exploring a number of options, including underpinning the upper floors.

But, he said, all options need to be “costed, ranked and considered”.

Cllr Jenkins said: “It will be a tough decision, the cost of RAAC is £25 million to replace, do we stay or do we go?

“We should all be involved in the decision as councillors and the public will have to be involved as well. I’m pleading for scrutiny on this - perhaps via the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board - we do like transparency.”

In response, Cllr Hart said he gets many emails from members of the public - mostly about highways - but is yet to receive any about where council business is conducted from.

In January Lynn Denham, who was then joint leader of Worcester City Council and is now the leader, said the closure of the front entrance and upper floors of County Hall had been going on too long.

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s.

It is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, is quicker to produce and easier to install.

However, the Health and Safety Executive says it is 'less durable than traditional concrete and there have been problems as a result, which could have significant safety consequences, that is it is liable to collapse'.