Hello fellow SE23ers!

Does anyone have any idea if there's any NEW info on what's happening to the Pools? It seems to have gone a bit quiet or have I just lost touch? Ruth

I would like to know that too

This is the link:

http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/LeisureAndCul...HillPools/


Latest
Currently, detailed costs and timelines on refurbishment of Forest Hill Pools are being worked up by council officers in Property Services.

The Council has asked Parkwood Leisure to continue to have a staff presence at the pool, and keep the Victorian pool plant working and the building heated to ensure its structural integrity. A 24 hour security presence is also on site.

September 2007

i spoke to a security guard there about a month ago and he said that it was definitely reopening but not for another 2 years.

I vaguely remember 2009 being mentioned at the last public meeting. Could be wrong. Everyone seemed surprised at how long it would take. Any news on a firm opening date for the library? That should be opening next month, shouldn't it?

I don't think there is much chance of the pool reopening in 2009 and I think it is a shame that the council have not admitted this yet.

The library will reopen on 11th/12th December.

why would the pool not be open in 2009?

because they haven't even managed to decide what they are going to do, never mind actually pulling out the metaphorical finger and started actually working on it

I am not holding my breath for this one

If you're fed-up with all the hot air and non-action over FH pool,
next May vote this lot out of Lewisham and vote a new lot in...easy.

I do not think there are local elections next May in Lewisham, only the London Assembly elections - and possibly a general election.

Apart from anything else, Steve Bullock has at least spoken of his committment to refurbishing the pool.
If he were to go in an election (if there was one), any succesor may not need to honour his plans...

Having said that, I really don't see why we can't have better updates of information from Lewisham on the matter. There should be some sort of scrutiny over the process that we could have access to on a formal and free basis.

We pay for this stuff and we should have better information!

(I also seem to recall the refurb involves losing the balcony - such a shame.)

I think we get the Mayor For London election in May 2008 (and nothing else).

Thought I would follow the link above to get the latest on the Pools but find that the Lewisham Website is down returning a page headed Server Error in '/Lewisham' Application!!! Why am I not surprised?

Having said which, does anyone have any news on the Pools - or Louise House?

link works for me, but has not been updated since Sept 2007 anyway

The problem is - it doesnt really matter who's in power - the government are always voted in back in.

There needs to be more public pressure on the council (whoever they are) and the Mayor to get our pools back. I dont know what's happening at the moment, the pools seem to have been forgotten - Perhaps the Forest Hill Society can take up the challenge?

I guess we'll be in direct competition with the money that needs to be spent on the Olympic games, so while we can use the publicity to support the need for recreactional pools in Forest Hill, we'll have a fight ahead of us to get the moeny - if it's not yet been allocated.

It is possible to put questions to the full council, thus replies are on record.

There used to be a thread on here when the pool closed, 2006?

Consultation took place in October 2005 and in 2006 the pools were closed. there were two options 1) Refurbishment, 2) Rebuild and here's a timetable given by the council in 2005.

http://www.saveladywellpool.com/newsItem...lPoolsNews

I've emailed Annette Stead at the Council for an update. She's previously been helpful in providing the latest news. WHen I get a response, I'll pass on any news here. If I don't, then perhaps our Councillors can help.

I don't think Lewisham will ever refurbish or reopen the pools. Swimming pools, especially old ones, are very expensive to run and as we know money is in very short supply. Whatever the results of one, two, three or even a hundred public consultations on the Forest Hill Pool I am sure that Lewisham will continue to look for a reason to demolish the pools. Personally I don't have a problem with the idea of demolishing the pools so long as they are replaced with modern facilities. Peckham Pulse and Beckenham Spa are great facilities. I do object to public consultation exercises which are simply window dressing.

At the public consultation the Mayor it was said there was ?4.5M to ?4.7M available for Forest Hill Pools.

When the pools closed in spring 2006 it was reported work would not begin till April 2008, but that was before the invasive survey was conducted.

Wavelengths is well underway and should open later this year, I don't think the Forest Hill project has gone to tender yet. Looks like the pools will not re-open before 2010, possibly 2012.

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/search/disp...g_pool.php