New venue proposed for brine baths in Droitwich

Campaigners want to build brine baths at Droitwich lido

A new venue has been proposed for the development of brine baths in a Worcestershire town.

Plans by campaign group Save Our Brine Baths (SOBBS) include building the attraction at Droitwich lido.

Work to build baths at The Raven Hotel had been approved, but, claiming issues with the site, campaigners said a new location was needed.

Proposals are being reviewed by Droitwich Place Board for Wychavon District Council.

The authority said Droitwich's Raven Hotel remained the "preferred site" but it was aware of proposals involving the lido.

The town's brine baths, which used water from a natural salt water spring, have been closed since 2009 because of problems with the upkeep of the building.

The baths were first opened in the 1830s

Under plans by SOBBS, new baths would cost more than half a million pounds a year to run.

However, campaigners said the attraction would break even at a 50% capacity, with customers charged £10 for a 20-minute session.

The group's director, Lee Edwards, said the development would restore the town's heritage.

"I think it's essential if we're going to put the Spa back into Droitwich Spa, we do need our baths back," she said.

The first brine baths in Droitwich opened in the 1830s, taking advantage of the natural brine springs that have been used in the town since Roman times.

They were later owned by the private BMI Droitwich Spa Hospital, which closed them saying they were no longer fit for purpose.