A MAJOR bid to give Ipswich's swimming pools a radical makeover has been launched.

Naomi Cassidy

A MAJOR bid to give Ipswich's swimming pools a radical makeover has been launched.

A report on possible developments at Fore Street swimming pool, Crown Pools and Broomhill Pool was published yesterday, and explores the issues of improvements and health and safety measures to be undertaken.

The options include a £300,000 makeover at Fore Street, which would mean a massive renovation project, including repairs to the roof, retiling the floor and general redecoration work.

Judy Terry, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for arts, culture and leisure, who will be presenting the report to the executive committee on December 16, is also hoping that a £4million bid for improvements at Crown Pools will be granted, which would allow them to reconfigure the changing rooms, repair the roof and undertake major redecoration.

Mrs Terry said: “We have put quite a lot of money into improving the pools on things like plant machinery and safety issues, but it is not work that people can see. They are tired-looking and need proper refurbishments.”

It is also requested in the report that health and safety measures are undertaken at Broomhill Pool, which would consist of draining the pool and replacing the water with innate material, like foam, and removing the diving boards.

She added that plans to redevelop the borough's sports centres also need to be looked at and an assessment would be carried out across the whole area if they achieved unitary status.

She said: “The sports centres are also tired. They need a complete reconfiguration and extensions but we cannot afford to do that.”

Crown Pools consists of a competition, leisure and teaching pool, as well as other facilities like a fitness suite and crèche. The council has been considering either renovating or replacing it for several years.

Fore Street pool was built in 1854, and is primarily used for clubs, schools and private hire.