AFTER more than 18 months out of action, Bricket Wood swimming pool will reopen on Saturday, September 10, following a £250,000 revamp.

The 45-year-old pool closed in March last year, when gale force winds shattered two six-foot-wide windows.

However, a study into the cost of replacing the windows revealed massive amounts of repairs were needed to fix other problems, leading to fears the pool may remain closed.

St Albans District Council which leases the pool from HSBC bank was forced to spend about £250,000 to replace the windows and install an air filtering unit, new wiring, lighting, and to redecorate.

Leisure Connection the company that runs the pool on behalf of the council said it offered all staff who worked at the pool either a redundancy package or the opportunity to work at other sites it manages in St Albans district.

A representative for Leisure Connection said this week: "Several of the staff opted to take the redundancy money and have gone on to do other things. Those that chose to stay with Leisure Connection will be asked to return to Bricket Wood pool when it reopens."

He added that there is no question that the swimming pool will be fully staffed on Saturday, September 10.

Councillor Sheila Burton, portfolio holder for sport and healthy living, said: "I am glad the pool is finally open again and in time for the start of school swimming lessons.

"The project to replace the broken windows developed into a much wider refurbishment issue that has taken much longer than anticipated."

Councillor Burton thanked the swimming clubs who used to use the pool for their "co-operation during the closure".

Amid fears of a permanent closure, pool users formed the Pool Open Now Group (Pong) to lobby the council for action.

Pong's Ray Jefferey said: "We are really pleased. "It has taken a lot longer than we would have liked, but hopefully this time the council will maintain the building a bit better."