WOODBRIDGE'S popular pool is fully open again today with access all areas after a £500,000 facelift to mark its 30th birthday.The nine-month improvement project to make Deben Pool even more customer-friendly was unveiled to swimmers as they arrived for their regular morning dips.

WOODBRIDGE'S popular pool is fully open again today with access all areas after a £500,000 facelift to mark its 30th birthday.

The nine-month improvement project to make Deben Pool even more customer-friendly was unveiled to swimmers as they arrived for their regular morning dips.

Much of the work was carried out after being identified as badly needed by those people who use the building.

The refurbishment has provided the pool, which is used 133,000 times a year, with a bright new look, with modern warm changing rooms, a larger and refurbished health and fitness centre, and a more welcoming reception area.

"The pool is 30 years old and what better birthday present for it and local residents than this major new face-lift," said Maggy Wilson, Suffolk Coastal cabinet member for culture and leisure.

"The pool has been open every day throughout the building works that began last October, and I would like to thank everyone who continued having their regular dip despite some minor inconveniences.

"Customers were asked what they wanted done and the council has listened – now the pool's users have changing rooms which are warm, attractive, clean, smell fresh, don't have puddles of water, and does have proper working showers.

"The works were designed especially to take account of people with disabilities who will now be able to enjoy much easier access and better changing rooms. This really now is a facility for the 21st century."

The new state-of-the-art fitness suite opened its doors in January and is much bigger than the old one with a much-improved range of equipment aimed at those who want to get fit or keep fit.

Among the new cardio-vascular equipment in the suite are two cross trainers, three running machines (treadmills), two steppers, two concept rowers and two lifecycles

The official re-opening of the pool is on July 2 when the chairman of the council John Hammond will try out the new facilities.

The council is now turning its attention to Felixstowe Leisure Centre and its pools and is planning a major refurbishment project starting this autumn.