City of York Council has unveiled plans for a new hydrotherapy pool at Oaklands' Sports Centre.

If agreed, the pool will replace the existing ageing facility at Yearsley Bridge Day Centre, and will provide a dedicated facility for residents with disabilities and rehabilitation needs, such as those recovering from injury. The day care centre is due to close in 2008 as part of an initiative to modernise the way that people with learning disabilities are supported.

Anne Bygrave, head of Learning Disabilities at City of York Council, said: "We realise that one of the main concerns for customers at Yearsley Bridge Day Care Centre has been the reprovision of the hydrotherapy pool.

"The existing pool at the day centre is in need of modernisation and would require significant maintenance to extend its lifespan, so the centre's closure gives us an excellent opportunity to provide a new and improved facility that is accessible not just to those using day care centres, but  will support others with disabilities in the city .

"Proposals for the new hydrotherapy pool are still in the early stages, but the aim is to provide a facility that can be used by people with disabilities and those needing rehabilitation following injury. The hydrotherapy pool will be in a discreet part of the building housing the proposed six-lane community pool at Oaklands Sports Centre, so that pool users will also have access to the additional leisure facilities at the centre.

"Sharing facilities will also reduce the running costs for both sites, allowing shared 'plant' facilities, and will provide improved, central facilities, with adequate parking for customers, in an area that has good public transport links."

It is hoped that staff and customers from Yearsley Bridge Day Care Centre will be able to work with the design team to influence the layout of the pool and changing rooms.

The pool will have a private changing area, will have full wheelchair access, and will provide a quiet warm environment within a discreet part of the proposed  community pool.

It is hoped that plans for the new pools can be formally submitted to the council's Planning team at the end of May.