A MAJOR £1.3 million spending programme for York's Edmund Wilson swimming pool is going public this week.

Pool users will be invited to an information session on Saturday, before improvement work begins in the summer.

They will be warned that the pool, in Thanet Road, will be closed between July and January.

But benefits will include:

- A new unisex changing area

- Improved disabled access

- A new front entrance and staircase

- Repaired paving and boundary walls.

- Replacement of flat roofs.

Alan Jones, City of York Council's executive member for leisure, said: "This significant investment is part of the council's ongoing commitment to improve the city's swimming facilities.

"The information session provides an opportunity for people to see how the facility will be improved and is part of the on-going dialogue with customers."

The open session will be held at the pool between 11am and 3pm.

Updated: 12:09 Tuesday, January 29, 2002