Talks taking place on future of Coseley Baths site

Confidential negotiations are going ahead over the future of a former Black Country baths site, it has emerged.

Coseley Baths was controversially closed in August 2009 after Dudley Council chiefs claimed the building needed urgent repairs to make the roof safe and further work to bring the rest of the building up to scratch for continued public use.

The building in Pear Tree Lane was knocked down the following March and since then council chiefs have been trying to decide the future of the site.

Over the last few months the land has been used by contractors working on a nearby £4.5 million retirement village generating extra cash for the council.

Dudley Council spokesman Phil Parker said: "The contractor working on the extra care housing facility is using the site for car parking until June 2011 for an agreed licence fee of £1,000.

Meanwhile, the council is in confidential negotiations with interested parties about development of the site."

Bosses refused to say how the site could be developed as the negotiations were being conducted in private.

A new pool or overspill car park to ease congestion around the railway station have been mooted by residents but bosses have previously hinted a residential scheme is most likely as it will prove most lucrative.

Bosses have also held talks to consider whether to acquire land on the edge of the site to create space for a larger development.