Faversham swimming pool is about to undergo its first major refurbishment in 20 years.

Work to replace the deteriorating showers, toilets and changing area will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

The news will come as a relief for thousands across the town and further afield after the pool manager Roger Lake said in 2015 that if funding was not found for the building work, the facility would be at risk of closing.

With the help of Swale Borough Council and the pool’s own reserves, they have been able to commission a project that will cost around £200,000.

The trust says that it will be business as usual during construction and temporary showers and other toilets will be made available to swimmers.

Chairman of the pool management committee Geoff Wade said: “There will be some disruption to users but we will keep this to a minimum and apologise in advance for any inconvenience.

“Fortunately the noisiest parts of the operations will only last two weeks after which the fitting out will take place and our new facilities take shape.

“Once this phase of works is complete our next challenge is to raise the funds to replace the changing cubicles.

“We are already considering how to approach this and will be announcing our plans in the New Year.

“In the meantime we look forward to welcoming existing and new users to the pools in 2017.”

Swale handed over a £150,000 grant to the pools last year, a sum which Cllr Mike Henderson (Ind) said was insubstantial and “pales into insignificance” to the money handed to other leisure centres in the area.

The grant will pay for the refurbishment of the toilets and showers, but another £200,000 will soon be needed for the retiling of the indoor pool.

Cllr Henderson said at the time: “We have been talking for months and months to the council and it is our view that it is clearly them who should provide the funding for this.

“The money given pales into insignificance to money given to the Sittingbourne and Sheppey leisure centres and to the huge amounts of money given to the Sittingbourne regeneration project.

“Huge amounts of resources and millions of pounds are
going into the Sittingbourne regeneration project, and we are arguing about a few thousand pounds.”

Mr Wade has encouraged swimmers to check regular bulletins on their Facebook page or by clicking here to visit their website.