A date for the reopening of the Link Centre’s swimming pool has been confirmed.

Damage caused by autumn floods forced the West Swindon leisure centre to shut many of its facilities for weeks.

The ice rink is set to reopen this month, and the management team at GLL has now revealed that the swimming pool, along with its heated changing rooms and showers, will be available again on January 2, 2024.

To make this possible, the project team installed a temporary plant and machinery, which will be used for heating, and a temporary power supply and circulation pumps to get the pool running. Visitors can go for a swim from 6am to 10pm on weekdays, and from 6.30am to 6pm on weekends, with public swimming sessions, swimming lessons and club swimming on offer.

GLL partnership manager for Swindon, Barnaby Rich, said: “We now hope to reopen the Link’s swimming pool early in the new year.

“We know what an essential role it plays in the lives of so many local people and what a valued community asset it is.

“That’s why we’ve opted to open the pool at the earliest possible opportunity, using some temporary equipment, which will need to be replaced, rather than waiting for the delivery of the new specialist kit that is on order.”

New circulation pumps and specialist equipment, including water treatment equipment and electric control panels, have been ordered. These will be installed later in the year and a short period of closure will be required while that installation is carried out.

Cllr Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for communities and joint working, said: “This is great news for everyone who uses the pool at the Link from those who swim every day to our younger club swimmers and those who take lessons.

“It is extremely positive that just a couple of weeks after announcing the reopening date for the ice rink, we are now able to look forward to swimming once again at the Link.

“I’d like to thank GLL for their pragmatic approach in reopening the swimming pool as quickly as possible because it is really important that we have good swimming provision in Swindon.”

Meanwhile, the ice rink is scheduled to reopen to the public on December 18 after the first home matches for the Swindon Wildcats take place on the weekend of December 16 and 17.