NEWPORT council has shortlisted builders to start work on a 750,000 makeover of Newport Centre next month.

The city's premier swimming-pool is set to close on January 31, and could be shut for five months while new changing-rooms are built.

The shortlisted contractors Knox and Wells, Midas Construction, Pearce Construction, Stradform, and Cowlin Construction have all submitted outlines for the revamp, and the council is soon to pick the best proposal.

The council wants to replace separate men and women's changing areas with a'changing village' that has individual cubicles open to either sex.

The village is to transform the existing facilities, which have drawn heavy criticism and have not been renovated for 19 years.

The council was embarrassed when the changing-rooms were investigated by an undercover TV documentary that slated the facilities as dirty and unacceptable.

Councillor Bob Bright, leader of Newport council, said: "This is a really exciting project. The council is constantly trying to bring better facilities to the citizens of Newport.

"We hope this dynamic new facility will also be more accessible for the disabled members of the population.

"With family changing facilities and a complete new look, this will really help maintain Newport Centre as a vibrant leisure facility for all."

The changing village will hold unisex and family cubicles, as well as baby-changing areas and facilities for the disabled.

The council is paying for the renovations itself after spending years trying to find grant funding for the project.

The pool will also be drained to allow renovations, and the council said the partial demolition of existing walls will improve security in changing areas.