A Fresh New Look for MaindeePools.com

MaindeePools.com has a new look. If you've visited maindeepools.com recently, you may have noticed things look a little different. That's because the site has been rebuilt with a refreshed design on a brand-new content management system.

MaindeePools.com exists to celebrate Maindee Pools, the Art Deco swimming baths in Newport that were part of the community's life for generations. We made the move with one aim in mind: to make that history easier for everyone to explore. Below we explain what has changed, what we hope you'll notice, and how you can tell us what you think.

What's changed

The site now runs on LifespanSoftwareCMS, a content management system custom built by Lifespan Software. Rather than bend an off-the-shelf platform to fit, we designed it around the features we actually need for publishing blogs, articles and pages across our sites. Moving to it has let us rework the site from the ground up rather than patch the old one.

LifespanSoftwareCMS is still under active development, so you'll see it improve over time as we add features and refine what's already there. We hope to release it to the public one day, but for now our focus is on making it as good as it can be.

Alongside the new system comes a refreshed design: cleaner layouts, clearer navigation and a more consistent look from page to page. Everything you know is still here, including the History of the pools, the News archive of newspaper articles, the Pictures and Videos collections and the Guestbook. It's simply better organised and easier to find.

A more accessible site

We want the story of Maindee Pools to be open to every visitor, whatever device they use or however they browse. The new design was built with accessibility in mind, and we hope it makes a real difference.

• Clearer structure: headings and page layouts that are easier to follow, including with screen readers.
• Better readability: stronger contrast and more legible text.
• Works on any screen: the layout adapts to phones, tablets and desktops, so photo galleries and articles look right wherever you view them.
• Easier navigation: menus and links that are simpler to use by keyboard as well as by mouse or touch.

Accessibility is ongoing work, not a box we tick once. If anything gets in your way, please let us know.

Faster loading times

Nobody enjoys waiting for a page to load, especially on a mobile connection. The new platform is designed to be lighter and quicker, so pages should appear faster and feel more responsive as you move around the site.

That means less time waiting and more time browsing the photos, articles and memories of Maindee Pools.

Tell us what you think

We'd love to hear your feedback on the new site. Whether you've spotted something that isn't working, found a page hard to use, or simply like the new look, your comments help us keep improving.

And if you have your own memories, photos or stories of Maindee Pools, we'd love to hear those too. Please get in touch through the Contact Me page or sign the Guestbook.

Thank you for visiting MaindeePools.com, and we hope you enjoy the new site.