NEWS that Ledbury's refurbished swimming pool will feature a mixed sex changing area has led to fears that the arrangement will put off older swimmers in particular.

But Halo Leisure, which runs the pool for Herefordshire Council, says the mixed gender "changing village" will be more family friendly and offer greater disabled access and security.

Concerns have been raised by the Herefordshire councillor for Ledbury, Cllr Liz Harvey, who expressed her worries in a report to the town council.

Cllr Harvey believes the "changing village" design is to save money for "dry" areas at the complex, off Lawnside Road.

The refurbished pool will include "dry-side areas"; a sauna and steam room, and a gym and exercise studio.

Cllr Harvey said: "It seems clear that the intention of the refurbishment is to enable Halo to increase revenue. This is being achieved in Ledbury at the expense of the space for changing facilities.

"Unfortunately, it's the older customers who appear most likely to be put off using the facilities - the very users whom the council is keen to encourage to stay active and healthy. Genius."

Other local councillors have also expressed concerns about the changing village arrangement, and Halo and Sport England are in the process of arranging a meeting with the town council, to discuss those issues.

Halo Leisure said it was investing £2.3million into the refurbishment of the leisure facilities at the swimming pool in Ledbury, and that the changing room design was in keeping with other pools across the UK.

Alex Haines, partnership manager for Halo Herefordshire said that Halo’s renovation team had "already moved in to upgrade and extend the gym and exercise studio, make over the reception area and build a new sauna and steam room".

He added: "Part of the Ledbury improvement project will see the introduction of communal village changing facilities. As an organisation specialising in leisure management our experience confirms that this changing room design offers significant improvements. Since 2007 we have upgraded all of the swimming pools in the county and gradually converted the changing rooms to a village design, with the only remaining site now being Ledbury.”

Mr Haines added: "The vast majority of new swimming pools being built across the UK will follow this design."

He said there were "tangible advantages" with the changing village layout.

Halo believes it will be more family friendly; be a better use of space, and will "improve safeguarding for all vulnerable groups through better supervision".

Better supervision would be offered for school groups, and because the changing village would be mixed gender, there would be "improved standards of cleanliness as staff from either sex can access all areas at all times".

Mr Haines added: "From our experience with the other pools in the county we have seen both increased participation and customer satisfaction following their re-opening; for example Ross Swimming Pools adult membership base has increased by 81% since its makeover which included a village change facility.”

The refurbishment of Ledbury Pool is set to be completed by next April.