STONE which will give Tenbury a new look is to be imported from the other side of the world, prompting concerns over environmental damage and the possible use of child labour.

Worcester County Council has moved to reassure residents that the products are sourced ethically. It says it is committed to using socially responsible suppliers.

The material that will now be used as part of the improvement of the public places in the town will be sandstone from India.

Originally it was thought yorkstone stone would be used to replace the footpaths and other public areas, as part of a major public works programme, now it appears the material will be imported from thousands of miles away.

The cost-cutting measure came as a shock to Tenbury mayor George Price who claims to have received an e-mail giving him and the council only five days to approve the move.

He’s concerned about the possibilty of child labour being involved – sandstone operations in India have been the subject of several high-profile media exposés in recent years – and he’s called for more information about how it was sourced.

“It is amazing that after two years of consultation we were given five days to approve the material,” said Coun Price.

Work on the facelift for the town will begin in the New Year and is expected to be completed by the time that the new Tesco store on the old auction yard site opens in the autumn of 2014.

Tesco will make a major contribution to the cost of the works.

Critics of the use of Indian sandstone point to environmental damage and the use of child labour in some quarries.

Councillor Ken Pollock, Tenbury’s member for Worcestershire County Counci defended the credentials of the product, and he was backed by a statement from Worcester County Council which said it and the supplier were committed to using ethically sourced materials: “Marshalls, our chosen suppliers of sandstone for the Tenbury Wells improvements, are committed to high levels of social and corporate ethical responsibilities, shown by their commitment to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and the UN Global Compact.

“All of Marshalls worldwide suppliers have to comply to the ETI base code, which ensures freely chosen employment, safe and hygienic working conditions, actively guards against child labour, ensures living wages, no excessive working hours and no discrimination.”