AN "exciting new era" has been predicted for leisure centres in Kidderminster and Stourport amid plans to bring in a top firm to manage them.

But fears have been raised over the effects of the change on public access to the centres, staffing levels, admission prices and the potential amount of private use.

Wyre Forest District Council is set to hive off Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre and Stourport Sports Centre in a move which will save the cash-strapped authority £500,000 a year.

DC Leisure, which Kidderminster mayor Ken Stokes said was one of the top three firms of its kind in the country, has pledged to pump £600,000 into the Stourport facility to develop a new high-tech fitness suite and re-model its entrance.

However, the move has been slammed by Jamie Shaw, the leader of the Labour group on the district council, who feels councillors have been sidelined in the negotiations.

Mr Shaw outlined fears about the possible effects of the plan and said councillors had not been sufficiently consulted.

He spoke out after a special full council meeting in which the firm was selected from a choice of two.

"Taxpayers should be aware that they may well be expected to fund what may be little more than private sports clubs to the tune of £1.5 million per year in a deal in which there has been no effective involvement from councillors," he added.

Running the centres costs the council £2m a year and Mr Shaw's figure takes into the account the saving.

Council leader Liz Davies, of ruling group Health Concern, said portfolio holders had looked at the issue in "intimate detail" and stressed the plan was subject to further negotiations.

The council had voted to let the executive, the "cabinet" of councillors responsible for making decisions, deal with the talks.

But Mrs Davies added regular progress reports would be published and the council's scrutiny committees would be able to call them in and ask questions if members were not satisfied.

Mr Stokes, speaking in his role as portfolio holder for community life, described the firm as one of the UK's top three and "a proven high quality leisure operator" which works with 27 other councils managing 96 sites across the country.

Bewdley Leisure Centre is not included because the council shares it with the county council as well as Bewdley's high school and youth centre.

Talks are aimed at securing a 10 year contract for DC Leisure to manage the two centres, in partnership with the council, from April next year.