I live about 50 metres from the pools site, and this evening Im going to Crystal Palace via the 122. In the weekend I'll probably go to Brockwell Lido via the P4 and a couple of walks.

'Michael' said:

But he's doing some sort of keep-fit routine, not swimming. The reason I raised the issue was because I had an idea (perhaps wrong, perhaps out of date) that black people were under-represented amongst swimming pool users (probably not the case for people who listen to Kylie, whoever she is, and for antipodean alcoholics) and that it would therefore have been good PR to include one among the images of swimmers.

Can you remind me how many people are actually pictured swimming? Is it just one person who was selected because of her great performance in competitions and use of the pool in the past?

Haven't counted but certainly quite a few.

At the risk of muddying the waters, I have recently received a form from Lewisham Hospital which declares it is recording patient diversity. It asks you to choose from 70 different "ethnic" options.

In case this causes confusion clarification is given saying that you should say "how you see yourself, which is a mixture of culture, religion, skin colour, language and the origins of yourself and your family". The irony of telling you how you should see yourself appears to be lost.

Fortunately the form includes a 71st category, "Not stated" with the code of "Z". I shall only ever "see myself" now as a Z.

I know we've discussed this before, but there is a point to these forms, and that's to make sure public and other bodies are serving the wider community. If very few black people, for example, are using a service, there may be reasons for this that can be addressed to make the provision of those services to those people is more successful.

You don't have to tick any boxes if you don't want to.

the pool at St Dunstans College is open for public swimming Tues-Weds 2030-2200 and Thurs - Fri 2100-2230 £4 per swim

I think Lewisham have been doing quite a lot to get 'hard to reach' groups swimming.

Will probably be another thing that gets cut.

This is very useful to know, thank you.

Do you know how long it is, and if they have "laned" swimming?

Does anyone know what's happened to the dragons? They disappeared from the roof of the swimming pool building a few weeks ago. Have they been removed for safety during the building works? I haven't seen them in any of the mock-ups of the new pools...

Mr Tumnus - if they have been carefully removed then it is probably reasonable to assume that they will be put back in a better state than they were in (I seem to remember something about one needing some repairs).



Every so often I like to look back over the 1400+ posts on this thread to see the arguments we were having for a few years and reflect on how wonderful it is that the best we have to complain about is the art work on the hoardings behind which a new pool is being built.

Having spent a little time on the site in Willow Way this week I realise just how lucky we are to be getting the pool built where it is, especially given the proposals for cuts to other services in the borough.

Michael - here here!

Absolutely.

http://www.collegehire.co.uk/article-spe..._club.html

the pool is a decent length - I used to swim there when it was open to the public at weekends. It has been done up and I haven't been to the new one - 8.30pm is a bit late to go swimming for me - I'd have to go home and potter about then go out. I usually leave work about 6pm and am having a total lack of ability to find a pool open for lane swimming around that time which is easily accessible

The other pool we can get to easily (courtesy of the ELL) is at Surrey Quays. Off peak swim costs £3.80

There is also a pool at Dulwich College and the pool opposite Goose Green (which I believe is closed for refurbishmanet for a few more weeks)

Seven Islands Leisure Centre at Surrey Quays was in need of a good clean and refit last time I used it about 3 years ago. (Note: Pool nearer to Canada Water Station than Surrey Quays if you do want to try it)

The Bridge is better in my view

http://www.wyg.com/media/press-release.php?newsid=366

The battle to build the pool:
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2010...re-centre/

Michael, thanks for keeping track of the news wherever it appears. It's great to see progress towards the goal. Now, I wonder which contractor would be best..!

News from the ward assembly is that the pool is planned to be opened BEFORE the Olympics in 2012! No promises from the council staff, as this is earlier than we had been expecting, but it might be possible.
It would be great to go into the Olympics with the newest swimming pool in the country.