DROITWICH Spa’s Brine Bath Complex will not open its doors again.

The site in St Andrew’s Road will no longer house the historic town facility after owners BMI Healthcare decided to close it for good.

It is news that will rock residents and town campaigners alike, many seeing the baths as a symbol of Droitwich’s very existence and a cornerstone of its proud heritage.

BMI Healthcare closed the site last year blaming health and safety inspections as the reason. However, it was a move that violated their lease agreement and one that has led to concern and anger from townsfolk.

The firm has a lease on the land, which is owned by Wychavon District Council, for another 100 years. Under the agreement, originally signed with the General Healthcare Group, BMI was obliged to provide a brine facility to the public for 25 years, an agreement that was cut short because of the sudden closer. The lease was due to come to an end in September 2010.

Talks between Wychavon District Council and BMI Healthcare have since been ongoing for months as the two parties attempted to thrash out an resolution.

Wychavon was faced with a decision to either force the firm to open the site for the additional months until the lease agreement expired or to seek compensation.

The decision to do the latter has seen the council obtain £200,000 - money that has been promised to providing another brine related attraction in the Spa.

Leader of the council, Paul Middlebrough, said: “This is clearly a blow for Spa residents, but the £200,000 we have negotiated will provide a positive reinvestment that will help us to keep a brine experience in the town.”

Vic Allison, deputy managing director, added: “We’ve done everything we can to try to keep this facility in Droitwich Spa. Under a long standing agreement, Wychavon could have forced BMI to continue to provide the facility, but only until September 2010, after which time BMI were clear that they would need to close the facility as it was not viable.

“Rather than pursue that legal agreement, Wychavon and BMI have agreed this sum will be invested back into Droitwich Spa.”

William Moy, from campaign group SOBBS (Save Our Brine Baths), said: “We are very disappointed by this news. I think Wychavon should also pay compensation to the people of Droitwich for setting up such an unstable lease in the first place.

“Now we know that the site will not open again there are other issues that need to be addressed. It is all very well having £200,000 but it must be spent in the right way.

“Talk of a ‘brine experience’ is very worrying. The brine baths need to be replaced and needs to use the same brine source.”

A spokesman from BMI Healthcare said: “Ever since we identified electrical and mechanical issues at the brine bath late last year, we have been working with the council to create a solution that will provide Droitwich with a long term spa experience associated with its brine heritage.

“Instead of us investing in the fabric of the existing brine bath, at this late stage in that agreement, we believe that it is more appropriate and beneficial to the community for us to provide the council with funds to invest in a new brine-related leisure facility.”

To ensure the money from BMI is spent in the best possible way, Wychavon is setting up a taskforce to look at leisure facilities associated with a brine heritage that could be paid for using the money they have received.