A PROJECT that will revamp Romsey Rapids for 15 weeks is set to cost £1.5 million and begin next month, bosses have revealed.

The Romsey Rapids Sports Complex is upgrading its pool changing area and health and wellbeing facilities in a scheme that will close off wet-side areas until early 2019.

The paper revealed in July that the complex would be closing, but that no cost had yet been announced for the upgrades.

Now, Places Leisure, the company that runs the complex, together with Test Valley Borough Council, have said that the project will cost £1.5 million and will shut off the effected areas for 15 weeks after October half-term, which is the week beginning October 22.

The works to be carried out will include remodelling and installation of new wet-side changing rooms after responses from customer feedback.

New family changing cubicles, larger lockers, a shoe removal area and new toilets and showers will also be added.

Community and leisure portfolio holder, councillor Tony Ward said: "Our residents deserve access to high quality leisure facilities, so I welcome the much-needed improvements to the pool hall, health suite and wet-side changing rooms.

"Though we regret the disruption the closure will cause, we hope that customers will be pleased with the enhancements and the long-term benefits they will deliver."

A consultation is also to be launched over the remodelling of the health suite.

Places Leisure area manager Peter Leamore said: "We hope our customer are excited about the impending new improved wet-side facilities at Romsey Rapids, whilst also broadening the appeal among the local community for greater health and wellbeing facilities.

"Unfortunately, the works could not be carried out without the closure, and we have tried to select a quieter time of the year to minimise disruption and it is anticipated that the pool will reopen in time for February half-term."

During the closure, members will be able to use the pools at Places Leisure Eastleigh, River Park Leisure Centre and the Andover Leisure Centre.

Swimming lesson customers can transfer on to the Places Leisure Eastleigh swim school, or freeze their payments.