MEMBERS of the campaign group set up to save Droitwich’s brine baths are calling for a place on a task force that will decide what will replace the now closed facility.

Members of SOBBS (Save Our Brine Baths) are unhappy at being left out of the group, which has been put together to respond to the recent closure. The baths, in St Andrew’s Road, Droitwich, will not open again after BMI Healthcare, the firm that runs the site, decided it would not be viable to do so.

But it was a move that violated their lease agreement with land owners Wychavon District Council meaning that they have now paid £200,000 in compensation.

A task force was soon set up by Wychavon District Council to look at how the money could be best spent in Droitwich. The group is being led by Councillor Tom McDonald, the council’s board member for leisure, and includes representatives from Droitwich Spa Town Council, the town’s area partnership and local traders group For Droitwich Spa.

However, SOBBS members are not happy at being left out and are urging the district council to include them.

“We, as a group, represent the people of Droitwich and what they want. We want the opportunity to work with the task force and put across those views,” said SOBBS member William Moy.

“A recent meeting of our group with Jack Hegarty indicated that if private finance could be found then an area of land in the town could be looked at too. That is something we want to explore, as well as possible fund-raising to add to the £200,000. It is worrying that there is talk of a so called ‘brine experience’ rather than a similar replacement.

“Until we are involved with such groups it is hard for us to make plans and put across what residents want,” he said.

Jack Hegarty, managing director of Wychavon District Council, said: “I attended a useful meeting last week with SOBBS and explained the membership and terms of reference for the brine baths task force.

“The task force has been established with direct representation from a range of Droitwich Spa organisations and has already started work gathering information in preparation for developing a range of options and opportunities for the future. As the work of the task force progresses it will wish to hear the views of the many groups and individuals, including SOBBS, who are interested in securing a local brine experience in the future as a common objective.”