THE new pool in Blackbird Leys is getting closer to completion, with tiles and filters for the eight-lane pool being installed.

There will be more than 46,000 tiles fitted into the Oxford City Council pool, which will hold 813,000 litres of water.

As well as the progression inside, the new building – adjacent to the existing Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre – is having its glass-panelled wall installed. It is now visible from Pegasus Road.

The £9.23m facility – which will have a 25-metre pool with a moveable floor, teaching pool, fun water area, soft play area and new changing facilities – is on target to be finished in December.

Oxford City Council board member for leisure services Mike Rowley said: “I’m delighted to see the first tiles being laid in the pool. This is when you start to see the swimming pool come together.”

The leisure centre’s general manager David Hunt said: “It is exciting to see the new building starting to take shape and the opening getting closer.

“Our team have already been working on timetables and operational planning.”

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