If supporters of Willow Way cam come up with a suitably aggressive woman we can organize a cat-fight in the underpass of the station and decide this issue once and for all. Stuff the consultation.

Max, I think Babs is your man for a cat-fight in the underpass. He knows how to bear a grudge against a woman and bitch about it for eternity as his way of backing the lunatic Willow Way proposal.

Sniffer,
I was replying directly to a needless carp at me from Michael.

And I don't particularly support Willow Way, I just don't like the attachment to the old pool frontage, and don't think it's as earth-shatteringly terrible an idea as a lot of people are making out.

But none out of two ain't bad. Carry on.

I have also had rudeness and finger wagging from one woman when I said very politely that I did not agree with her inaccurate portrayal of Willow Way as being riddled with prostitutes and kerb crawlers.
She could not have known who I was hence could not possibly have known that I may have well deserved finger wagging and ridicule for my apparent occasional siding with Baboonery on this thread.

Baboonary and Roz

And as I have posted before I also have had rudeness and finger wagging on two occasions from the same woman when I have politely declined to sign her petitions.
First when she was trying to get me to save the face of Forest Hill. Secondly when she was trying to get me to keep swimming in Forest Hill.

All we want is a pool sometime before our children have grown up and within the local area (which Willow Way is) even if it has a Sydenham Post Code.

Babs, Roz and Aswas

One woman causes you all offence. Lighten up. Why not put your energies instead into a campaign to re-vitalise Forest Hill? I promise to sign your petition.

The questionnaire is a consultation, not a vote or a ballot. I think it is absolutely right to use the form to comment on what you want - and not to be forced down the path of the councils 'options' A or B.

All this hand wringing by LB Lewisham is a sham - we all know that if a local authority wants something to happen, they can make it happen. If the will was there, new pools on the existing site could be made to work - and I believe this is still possible, if the pressure is maintained by local people.

Interesting moral question:

Should we just get what we want for our own personal (albeit valid) reasons. Or should we have a responsibility towards the area in which we live for future generations (even if at the expense of short term gain)? The Council's duty of care in respect of the latter being clearly subject to question.

Just as a matter of interest regarding where Willow Way is located, I looked up the address of the current council facility on royalmail.com and found that, although the address does not include the district, it is:

London Borough Of Lewisham Housing Department
Sydenham Neighbourhood Office
Willow Way
LONDON
SE26 4QP[/size]

I was rather appalled at the partial nature of the consultation document but, surely, the best option for those of us who think the new pools should be built on the present site is to vote for option 1 (so the final numbers show a majority in favour of retaining the present site, irrespective of timeline). Then, separately, continue the petition etc but also start making the Mayor's ridiculous behaviour and the Council's crappy options analysis a problem more broadly - through letter campaigns, parliamentary questions from MPs, Freedom of Information requests, whatever - to broaden the political / media interest and fall-out. Of course - we also need a positive, credible vision of how an adequate pool could be delivered quickly and cheaply on the current site (which I know lots of people have discussed already on this thread).

Total signatures now standing at 5,758 - all collected within Forest Hill.

I think the people have spoken.

Quetta

That is an excellent result. Not sure of the total adult population of SE 23 but over 5000 very good.
Being a cynic doubt if it will make any difference to Lord Bullock.

2001 census says that Forest Hill Ward population was 14,039 (248,922 in total in Lewisham Borough).

So a reasonable turnout compared to the 2001 FH population, but only 2.3% against the total Lewisham figure - this might explain why Lewisham's Mayor might not be swayed by localised, vocal opinion.

Thanks IWAFuming
I think that we should take into account Perry Vale and Sydenham Wards ( 5000 still good figure ) , but not the whole borough that is totally stupid.
Assuming wards roughly the same population then about 42,000 which includes under 18's and many people who would not go to a pool under any circumstances. 5000 about 12% of actual adult vote in all 3 wards but take away children ( who presumably not allowed to sign petition ) and others who could not care less then probably at least 33%.
Why should someone in Deptford or Hither Green have a say .

I think you are missing my point Brian. Sir Steve is the Mayor of Lewisham, not just Forest Hill, so he might not be overly concerned about annoying 5,758 people (3%) of the approx. 190,000 people of voting age living in Lewisham.

I'd love to see swimming return to Dartmouth Road but it is easy to see the counter argument to "I think the people have spoken" ... that about 82% of people of voting age in Forest Hill, Sydenham and Perry Vale wards haven't signed.

sorry if this has been posted before.
long topic to sit and read from end to end.

lewisham home had a survey on the pools today
only two options are listed willow way or wait and maybe get a new pool.

once again sorry if you already know about this i don't get much time to sit a read the site these days.
i filled it in today.
http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p223802369.aspx

I do know a few people who have admitted to signing every petition presented to them and have signed paper copies as well as completed the one on line.

The other way of presenting this is as you say, IWAF, by default, 82% of the local population appears to prefer Willow Way.

20% signing an informal petition is not so bad.
After all, Mayor Bullock only had about 13% of the population of Lewisham voting for him at the last poll.

Afternoon all.

Just had a lady from Continental Research conducting a survey on behalf of Lewisham Council regarding the Pools and discussing Option 1 and Option 2.

I waxed lyrical about how wonderful having pools back in Forest Hill would be to me and my two children etc etc etc.

Thought you all might like to know.

http://www.continentalresearch.com
0500 396999
If you wish to check credentials.

We had a god cat-fight at the office Christmas Party. I'll back my colleague against any challenger!