Liverpool's new Olympic size swimming pool is to open on March 15th.

The finishing touches are being made to the 50 metre facility at Picton Lifestyles in Wavertree ready for the opening before Easter.

The state-of-the-art pool will be one of only a handful of Olympic size pools in the UK. It is three pools in one with the main pool designed to be divided in two plus another 20 metre pool. It has a unique moveable floor to allow the the depth of the water to be varied.

It's the biggest investment in the city's swimming facility for decades, and will benefit the local community and also be used as a training centre by the city's elite swimmers - putting an end to the 70 mile round trips they have to make to Manchester and Wigan. 

Lib Dem Council leader Warren Bradley said: "This will be a valuable facility not just for our own elite swimmers, but also the local community including recreational groups, mothers and toddlers and schools.

"It will also be used by up and coming junior swimmers who are rising through the ranks and are potential Olympic and Commonwealth medal winners of the future. The aim is for this facility to help create local heroes and heroines in the pool at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

"Liverpool is one of the most successful sporting cities in the country and it is only right that we have the best training facilities for our athletes.
          
"We already have first class athletics, football, gymnastics and tennis facilities in Liverpool, and the pool will allow us to bid for national swimming championships so that people can cheer on our athletes in their home city.

"We are delighted that Sport England has pledged its support for the project, to help us make this dream a reality in our year as European Capital of Culture." 

Spectators will be able to watch the swimmers in a 400 seat arena, and it is expected the site will also host major swimming championships.

The £17 million project includes additional investment to improve the Picton Lifestyles leisure centre next door which will see a major expansion of the gym with more than 100 pieces of gym equipment. 

A new electricity substation has had to be built to power the super facilities at Wellington Road.

The majority of funding - £13 million - is coming from the city council, with a further £4m of Lottery cash from Sport England.
         
Allerton's Olympic and Commonwealth medallist Stephen Parry - who faced a round trip of almost 100 miles per day to train in Stockport during his time as a competitor - is backing the new pool: "I am absolutely thrilled that this scheme is nearing completion. 

"Liverpool has a strong tradition of producing fine sportsmen and women, and the 50 metre pool will mean the swimming stars of the future will be able to train locally without facing the additional hassle of having to travel in order to train."

Picton Lifestyles is the largest council operated facility in the city, and receives more than half a million visits every year.

The scheme will replace the worn out 80-year-old pool, which had to close because of structural problems.