CINDERFORD'S Cinderella swimming pool is finally getting a mini-makeover after years of wrangling.

Builders have moved in to revamp the run-down changing areas and washroom facilities at the leisure centre.

Cinderford' s Mayor Max Coborn has been fighting for work to start on a £350,000 scheme to bring the leisure centre up to scratch.

But despite numerous complaints, district councillors have always been reluctant to spend large sums of money while the future of the Heywood site remained uncertain.

Now the district and town councils together with Heywood Community School have taken the plunge on a joint project to give the pool a new lease of life.

Forest of Dean District Council has committed £10,000, Cinderford Town Council £6,000 and the school a small amount of money and use of their caretakers.

Mayor Councillor 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 swimming pool and changing rooms will be closed for most of the time during the first two weeks of the summer holidays but there will be a limited number of activities.

Group manager for customer services Andy Barge said the timing was agreed so work did not disrupt the work at Heywood school or swimming lessons for pupils.

A summer holiday scheme will continue to operate.

Mr Barge said: "It's great to be able to work together to make these much-needed improvements happen for the benefit of the community.

"There will be some disruption during the work and we apologise for that in advance.

"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: "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."

The pool and swimming changing rooms will be reopened on Monday August 8 but swimmers are being advised to call Forest Leisure, Cinderford, on 01594 824008 or on http://www.forest">www.forest

leisure.org.uk.