Changing rooms at Forest Leisure in Cinderford will be updated over the next fortnight by work jointly funded by the district and town councils with support from Heywood Community School.

During the work the swimming pool changing areas and washroom facilities will be revamped and given a new lease of life.

Forest of Dean District Council has committed £10,000 to the work and Cinderford Town Council is putting £6,000 into the project in a bid to improve this well used community facility. Heywood Community School has also put in a small amount of funding with school caretakers supporting the mission.

Work started yesterday and should take two weeks. During that time the swimming pool and changing rooms will be closed for most of the time but there will be a limited number of pool based activities still taking place. Details of these are available from reception at Forest Leisure, Cinderford, on 01594 824008 or on http://www.forestleisure.org.uk">www.forestleisure.org.uk.

Andy Barge, Group Manager for Customer Services at Forest of Dean District Council said: "There will be some disruption during the work and we apologise for that in advance.

"We have timed the work recognising the site is also shared with Heywood Community School. Being the school holidays the work will not disrupt the school in any way. It will also mean school swimming lessons will not be affected. An action-packed summer holiday scheme will continue to operate from Forest Leisure.

"We are confident customers will see a significant improvement to the leisure centre in the area we get most feedback about."

Councillor Terry Hale, cabinet member for the community, said: "We are really pleased to be able to carry out this vital work for the benefit of everyone who uses it.

"In recent years the site has seen significant improvements with the addition of an outdoor synthetic turf pitch, refurbishment of outdoor tennis and netball courts and continual growth of the indoor fitness area. Updating the swimming pool changing area is well overdue and will hopefully give the site a new lease of life."

Cinderford mayor Max Coborn said: "Hopefully this is just the start and there will be further improvements to the leisure centre for the benefit of Cinderford and the surrounding communities which we would hope to have brought forward in the very near future."

The pool and swimming changing rooms will be reopened on Monday 8 August but we would advise customers to call the centre first before travelling.