WORK is almost complete on a �112,000 project to give a bright new future to a disused school swimming pool.

WORK is almost complete on a �112,000 project to give a bright new future to a disused school swimming pool.

The scheme at Colneis Junior at Felixstowe has transformed the pool - making it into a modern indoor facility.

It should be finished by the end of the month and will be used not just by Colneis pupils, but also those from other schools and the community, too.

The Splashing Out committee has managed to use the old six by 13 metre outdoor pool because the tank was still structurally sound but has turned it into an indoor pool by building a massive room around it with wall panels that can slide open to lead out onto a patio area with the school field beyond.

There are also showers and changing rooms, disabled toilet and a hoist to lower people with disabilities into the water.

Project chairman Brian Clark, a community school governor, said the pool should be economical to run - warm moist air from inside the pool hall will be reused to heat the water.

“We are extremely pleased - it's been a four-year project and a lot of work by everyone involved,” he said.

Teacher Ted Payne said Fairfield Infants and Kingsfleet Primary would be using the pool, and Langer Primary was interested.

Outside of school use, it would be open all-year-round to the community and would be ideal for a variety of groups and organisations to hire for a range of swimming events and parties, possibly combined with use of the school field and hall.

Parents, current and former pupils, teachers and friends of the school raised more than �30,000 from events and were boosted by an �80,000 grant from ITV's People's Millions show after people voted for the project.

Should all schools have an indoor pool? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk