SWIMMERS at Felixstowe face the loss of their pool for six weeks in the New Year as part of work on an £859,000 refurbishment project.But council officials want to know if the swimmers would be prepared to dive in a bus – and enjoy free transport to Woodbridge's pool instead.

SWIMMERS at Felixstowe face the loss of their pool for six weeks in the New Year as part of work on an £859,000 refurbishment project.

But council officials want to know if the swimmers would be prepared to dive in a bus – and enjoy free transport to Woodbridge's pool instead.

The pool at the leisure centre in Undercliff Road West will be closed to the public between Monday, January 5 and Sunday, February 15 while refurbishment of the pool side and the boiler and disinfectant systems take place.

To allow swimmers to keep up their regular programme of swimming during the closure, staff at the centre are looking into the possibility of providing a free coach service to Deben Pool on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The coach would leave Felixstowe at 11.30am, arrive at Deben Pool for 12 noon, leave again at 1.30pm to arrive back at Felixstowe at 2pm.

Customers are being asked to let the centre know if they would be interested in taking up this service, by completing a questionnaire available from reception.

"This major facelift to Felixstowe Leisure Centre will make it much more attractive and accessible to all the public," said Maggy Wilson, cabinet member for culture and leisure.

"Although the staff have managed to keep the facilities open during the current building works, while the improvements to the pool and boiler are being carried out it will be necessary to close the pool to the public.

"We apologise for this inconvenience, but hope regular swimmers will take up the offer of a free bus to Deben Pool until the Felixstowe pool is back in action."

The improvement programme at the centre, which attracts around 650,000 visits a year, is well under way.

It includes the reception being moved closer to the entrance of the centre and the refurbishment of the changing rooms, which will include unisex family changing and toilet facilities, plus improved changing and toilet facilities for people with disabilities and their carers.

The main changing areas will also see improvements to the floor and walls, and to the overall design and layout.

The changing rooms in the fitness suite are also being altered to make them more accessible for people with disabilities.

Councillors agreed the work after being told that numbers of users would decline without it. The action being taken also addresses complaints and concerns from users.

WEBLINK: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk