A MULTI-million pound redevelopment of Ledbury swimming pool will begin this summer.

More than £2million will be invested in sprucing up the Lawnside Road venue with the project due to be completed next April.

However, the work will come at a cost with the venue set to close for a short time during part of the refurbishment.

Once complete the centre will boast a new fitness suite, the existing gym will double in size, a new fitness studio, sauna and steamer room will be added, plus family-friendly changing facilities and a new reception area.

The project is a partnership between Herefordshire Council and leisure provider, Halo.

The work will mean the temporary closure of some parts of the building, with Herefordshire Council officers currently working with Halo management to find ways to minimise the impact of the closure and to provide alternative arrangements for the community.

"This is a major investment in leisure facilities in Ledbury which is great news for the local community who feared the closure of the pool over recent years," said Cllr Harry Bramer, cabinet member for contracts and assets.

"Whilst we understand there will have to be some closure of the service, in the long term the new facilities will bring many benefits for the health and wellbeing of the community."

Halo's chief executive, Scott Rolfe, said the decision to temporarily close the pool was a difficult one.

"The scale of the refurbishment and the need to have the best quality build in the shortest time frame makes it financially and practically impossible for the centre to remain open during the project," he said.

"The decision of a short-term closure has not been taken lightly and all alternatives have been fully explored.

"Although the swimming pool will close we are hoping to relocate the gym to the youth club next to the pool. It will be bigger and have even more equipment and we will also run our group exercise classes from there too."

For more information on the project visit facebook.ledburyleisure