WORK is well on schedule for a next April re-opening of a much-changed Ledbury swimming pool at Lawnside Road, with a great deal of the old structure currently being demolished by the contractor, Speller Metcalfe.

A spokesman for Halo said that, since work began in July at the site, Spellar Metcalfe, the company which was also responsible for the successful refurbishment of the Master's House on St Katherine's car park, has been "busy deconstructing and reconstructing Ledbury’s new facilities" at the pool.

The swimming pool refurbishment, which is costing around £2.3m, has already involved substantial demolitions.

The Halo spokesman said: "Work is well underway at the facilities at Ledbury Swimming Pool.

The whole front of the building has now been demolished including the gym, reception and changing rooms.

"The steel-work for the extension including which will house the new gym, exercise studio and family friendly village style changing rooms is now complete and the construction of the gym roof timbers is in progress. Drainage is 50% completed and block-work has started to the new elevations, at the front of the building."

All this work means that access to the public will not be possible until the grand re-opening, next spring.

The spokesman added: "We would like to thank the Ledbury community for their ongoing cooperation and patience."

Halo, which runs the leisure facilities on behalf of Herefordshire Council and for the community, is in the meantime offering gym and group exercise class membership at temporary facilities, based at the old youth club in nearby Bye Street.

Recent extra funding from Sport England means the refurbishment pot for Ledbury Swimming Pool can be even more accommodating for disabled swimmers and other centre users.

Sport England has recently awarded £500,000 of National Lottery funding to help Ledbury Swimming Pool transform its facilities in this way.