THERE are just three more hurdles to jump before work can start on the new Droitwich Lido after an ambitious revamp was given the green light by an influential council committee.

Wychavon District Council overview and scrutiny committee have now reviewed and approved the proposals.

The next step is for the plans to go before the

Wychavon executive board on Tuesday.

If they like the Lido package, they will recommend it to the full council meeting held immediately afterwards.

Then it's up to planners to give the go-ahead at a meeting on Thursday, February 16.

If everything goes well, the bulldozers can move on to the site in April.

Coun Rob Adams, overview and scrutiny committee chairman, said: "It is vital that plans as important as providing a Lido for the district comes before this independent committee.

"We have taken a close interest in the Lido proposals as they developed."

Wychavon's £1.5m vision is to give the site a complete facelift and have it open to the public by August.

An estimated 30,000 visits are expected each year.

Questionnaires revealed that the people of the town wanted a rectangular saltwater outdoor pool, between 1.5m and 2m deep.

Other suggestions for the site included the use of sand, a roller skating/ice skating rink and sun-loungers.

Work on wet play areas, one of which is expected to be free of charge, has already started

Wychavon has already earmarked £579,000 for the project, with car parking revenue, money from other budgets and the five-year money plan being identified as other sources.

When the site is open, income can be expected from admission fees, season tickets, caf rent and locker fees.