PLANS to build a state- of-the-art swimming pool in Newport are set to receive a £1.5 million cash injection from the National Lottery.

And the news almost certainly signals the end for Newport's oldest swimming pool, Maindee Baths, which will close as part of the scheme - a decision likely to dismay many long-time users of the pool.

Council officials held a meeting on Friday with the Sports Council for Wales where they outlined the business plan for the new £5 million scheme.

And following those discussions the Argus can reveal that the Sports Council for Wales is poised to agree to contribute £1.5 million of lottery cash towards the facility.

Work is set to start later in the year after planning permission was approved by councillors last July.

Councillor Glyn Jarvis, cabinet member for culture, leisure and recreation, said: "We have to make sure the new pool is viable if the Lottery is going to give us that amount of money.

"With Maindee being long past its sell by date, with its problems with parking and not meeting the requirements of the new disabilities act, we are planning to transfer the revenue costs and the staff to the new facility."

The new pool is expected to further promote the city's growing sporting reputation following the success of the new National Velodrome and the securing of the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor.

A bus route will take the public to the new pool which will be situated at Newport's expanding 'International Sports Village' in Spytty, already home to the city's athletics stadium which doubles up as Newport County's ground, a tennis centre, and the velodrome.

The 25m by 17m pool will be an extension of the existing tennis centre on the site of the outdoor courts and car parks which will be relocated.

Newport had originally bid for Wales' new Olympic-size 50 metre pool but lost out to Swansea.