Preparation for the demolition of The Pools in Carlisle is scheduled to begin next week (November 27).

The old 1970s pool building on James Street and the empty Staples building are set to be demolished, but Matalan will remain open, Cumberland Council said.

There are no road closures to be put in place in the meantime.

The council is reminding people that James Street, Water Street, and George Street, and all local businesses there, will stay open.

Eric Wright Civil Engineering is the contractor working on the demolition job, and disruption will be kept to a minimum, according to the council.

The site has been closed since last year in preparation for the demolition of the 1970s building, next door to the historic Turkish Baths - which is not being demolished itself.

It follows the closure of the Turkish Baths in October last year, although much work is being done by advocates of the historic feature to remain as a separate entity.

* An earlier version of this report suggested the demolition of the pools and road closures would begin today; instead, only preparatory work is underway at this stage.