Cherwell District Council (CDC) has announced that Woodgreen open air swimming pool in Banbury, Oxfordshire, is to reopen on 30 July following the completion of a £1.5m refurbishment scheme.

Work has been carried out in order to modernise the 50m pool after the council agreed in December last year to contribute £50,000 each year towards the management of the facility, which was closed to the public in 2002. The scheme has included the reduction of the pool's maximum depth to 1.8m, a new tiled deck-level pool, a new 'Aqua Zone' for young children, a revamped flume and work to upgrade both the plant and water treatment systems. New safety surfaces and a refurbished refreshments kiosk have also been included.

Banbury Town Council leader, Kieron Mallon, said: "By working together, the town and district councils have made sure that the people of Banbury have got the pool they wanted and deserved." The work forms part of CDC's £27.5m investment in improving the district's leisure centres and swimming pools, including the modernisation of facilities at Kidlington and Bicester, as well as the construction of Spiceball Leisure Centre.