Work has begun on the restoration of the iconic Coate Water diving board. 

Floating diving platforms, or a pontoon, have been installed around the structure leading back to the promenade to enable workers to access it easily. 

A specialist contractor will now spend 12 weeks carefully restoring the listed diving board back to its former glory, and not the filthy, bird poo-covered monument it has become in recent years.

The board was also in such a dangerous state that it was no longer usable. 

Swindon Advertiser:

As well as cleaning, the application of protective layers and minor repairs, guardrails which are replicas of the 1930s original will also be installed. 

The website Bidstats, which lists invitations to tender for public works, showed the borough council's advertisement inviting companies to bid for the refurbishment of the platform at £100,000 - £120,000.

Councillor Matty Courtliff is the newly appointed cabinet member for culture, heritage, leisure and town centre experience.

He said: “The diving board at Coate Water is an important part of the town’s heritage so I’m really pleased we are about to bring it back to its former glory."