In the run up to the local elections the Tories were promising leisure facilities at Cradley High would be expanded - now they're not trying to win your vote they aren't so sure.

Cradley's three Labour councillors have accused the Conservatives of lying to the electorate and breaking promises by pledging leisure facilities at Cradley High School would be not only kept - but improved.

An election leaflet issued in Cradley and Foxcote quoted Tory deputy council leader Charles Fraser Macnamara (pictured right) as saying: "I am pleased we have been able to allocate the necessary resources to expand and improve these important leisure facilities."

The leaflet went on: "Leisure facilities at Cradley High will be retained and improved by Dudley Council .... council bosses have taken the decision to maintain the buildings and enhance the facilities available."

But this week things weren't that black and white for cllr Macnamara, the council's cabinet member for culture and leisure, and he could not promise an expansion at the Homer Hill site.

He pledged facilities would be kept but said nothing could be confirmed about an expansion until a review took place.

Cllr Macnamara said: "It may be expanded - it will depend on what the review says. It's likely it will be."

Cllr Richard Body, who was elected for the Labour Party in Cradley and Foxcote, said: "How come before they had plans, now it's maybe, not definitely. It was an election stunt.

"If they are putting something out it should be the truth. They can't be trusted.

"I call on them now to keep to their promise. They have been trying to mislead people up to the election. It's trying to get elected by lying - and that's wrong - it's nasty."

Richard's fellow Labour councillor Gaye Partridge said she would write to cllr Macnarama asking him to set the record straight.

She said: "The people of Cradley deserve the truth."

John Perry, who issued the leaflet as part of his election campaign, said he had an email from a council officer stating "if there is demand the centre will be improved."

He said as far as he was concerned the leaflet was "entirely accurate".

Cradley High is set to close in August 2008 - the leisure facilities join onto the school.

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