WORK on the new swimming pool for Monmouth should begin in November and is expected to take just over a year to complete.

Two phases of the work schedule will begin with the construction of a temporary sports hall next month which will allow the 30 community groups that have ongoing bookings in the present building to continue their programmes.

Phase one is planned to include a children’s play area and café, a toning suite and spin studio, with a 60 station fitness studio and squash courts.

To help accommodate all of the groups, exercise referral classes will be established in the Shire hall and a pop-up gym will be set up in the Market Hall in Priory Street, the former One Stop Shop building which currently houses the Nelson Museum.

Between 13th and 17th November, the community groups will ‘test’ the facility on the temporary sports hall before it officially opens for business.

Phase two of the work schedule will see the closure of the leisure centre on 15th November and contractors ISG will then begin to convert the present leisure centre into a 25 metre five lane pool with a health suite including a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi as well as a sensory room with soft play and special needs facilities.

It is expected to see the fitness element of phase one in the leisure centre completed by June of 2018 after a period of 32 weeks and the pool should be completed by the end of November 2018.

The sportshall in the new school build will be available from September 2018.