I was working away at the time, but had hoped someone might have attended and reported on what happened.
Currently, the planning application shows that just 3 of the (only) 17 responses received are in favour, which doesn't seem particularly positive to me.
Does anyone know what's going on?

The majority of objections relate to parking and the impact that a popular pool will have on Thorpewood Avenue.
The transport statement produced as part of the application does imply that parking will not be a problem, with plenty of parking within a 250m distance from the site. The highways department representative said that there would be a CPZ consultation in Thorpewood and Derby Hill once the pool is opened to see if residents want to reserve their parking places in the road.

There were some other concerns expressed about some aspects of the design, in some cases the architects seems willing to make some minor amendments (particularly improving the south facing wall in a future application), in other cases they were unwilling or unable to make any changes.

The meeting only lasted for an hour, which was not really long enough to properly discuss the concerns.

Thank for the update. Michael.
I guess if there was a CPZ introduced, it would impact on the implication "that parking will not be a problem, with plenty of parking within a 250m distance from the site"

Possibly, although somebody in the audience did point out that it could be like the CPZ in David Road, where many of the spaces are for residents but also pay and display for up to 2 hours.

This would prevent commuters to or from FH using this road for parking during the day but would likely push the parking problem somewhere else.

I think the Perry Vale Car park is within 250m (as the crow flies) so there would still be quite a lot of parking in the vicinity. Even by walking direct this must only be about 500m (6 minutes walk?)

The public meeting was generally pretty positive (as I think the forum is really). It was about discussing and airing some of the finer details, rather than the principle or the overall approach.

Even the people who had issues mostly said they supported the overall project and scheme.

I walk through the Perry Vale car park on my way to the sorting office and normally notice more pedestrians about than cars parked even though you don't have to fly like a crow to be at the station in about 30 seconds or in the centre of FH in a minute.

You have to pay which I guess puts most people off and it always looks a bit unloved.

I think most people if they had to pay would prefer to pay to park around the swimming pool than spend 7 minutes getting to and from a car park on the other side of the tracks especially if it was for a short swim.

Everybody is positive about the pool and I think we have to give credit to the locals who will have to put up with the construction noise and dust but have only raised issues about being able to park where they live.

Seems to defeat the object of getting fit if you drive to your local pool.

Think I will have to agree with Gingernuts, if you want to try and get fit by swimming, then why drive to the pool

Not sure how the old pool in FH is now as it been such a long time since I went there, seem to recall they had 2 pools and i think it was really good - well it was when I last went, I even went on the morning of my weeding, sad or what or just dedicated to swimming as i was back in the old days

Lots of people do use swimming as a therapeutic exercise if they are less mobile. If you use the Perry Vale car park you either have to negotiate the steps in the underpass or walk around Waldram Crescent and up the quite steep hill. Not great for the less mobile or families with buggies (beat you to it, Roz!). FH pool will not be within walking distance for me. If parking is an issue, I'll still use The Bridge, for all it's faults. But that doesn't mean I think there should be more parking at FH pool, just that as a driver, I may use an alternative pool.

Although I am now a reasonably regular swimmer, I only got into it by having a rather serious injury that stopped me from walking. My rehabilitation after a few months involved walking/running on the spot in water - so Id be supported. I would have struggled to walk with crutches to the pools if I lived on the Perry Vale side of the tracks. I used to catch the bus to the crappy pools in Ladywell.

There is no easy public transport option to Dartmouth Rd from say, Vancouver Road.

To be fair however, I couldnt have driven then either.

It's a bit like this

larger copy

Hi LiseOfSE23,
You asked:

We moved to Thorpewood Avenue a few years before the pools closed (having a swimming pool at the end of the road was a big factor in our decision to move here ) and don't remember any problems with parking - and I'm at home all day with children. However, a couple of my neighbours seem to disagree and recall cars parked across their driveways, blocking them in, mothers leaving their vehicles willy-nilly as they rushed off to lessons with offspring, and the road generally being one big car park...
At the moment, with a primary school at the top of the road and another at the bottom, we get most cars parking at 8.45am/3pm, but the rest of the day/evening/weekend, it's pretty quiet. Personally, I can't see what all the fuss is about - but I may regret saying that...

HOWEVER... (she says, having thought about it a bit more)... back in the day, when the pools were on the slightly, ahem, shabby, neglected side, they probably didn't attract that many drivers (I guess if you were going to jump in your car, you might as well drive somewhere clean and shiny). When we have a spanking new, glorious leisure centre (bring it on!), it may be a different story...

Let's hope the new pool is managed more effectively than The Bridge.

Another failed attempt to swim there today. Small pool closed earlier than I was told on the phone it would (today) and consequently large pool full.

I could excuse this if it was a one off but it happens with monotonous regularity with more of our family swims being curtailed or failed than seem to happen. Nearly always to do with short staffing.

Thats my experience with both The Bridge and Ladywell pools. Poorly updated website and staff who either dont know what times each session starts and finishes or dont care.

FiB
I have friends in Thorpewood Avenue and I asked about the issue of parking before the swimming pool closed. Generally people didn't think there was a problem because it wasn't very popular and because the schools weren't highly regarded. Things have changed in FH over the last 5 years and the two schools are in the top 5 in Lewisham which has attracted a lot of young families there.

As for the parking issue, there seems to be three camps.

The first are the people who pay their taxes and feel that they shouldn't have to pay for parking on their street either due to economic or political beliefs.

The second which sounds like you are part of are those with off street parking mainly on the FH side. You have got that space either parking in the driveway or across it. Parking has never been an issue for you. You might have a second car but it is out during the day.

The third are the people on the terrace who have problems getting a parking space. They have about 20 steps up to their houses so deliveries, carrying shopping or kids is that bit harder if you have to park a distance away or on the other side. People prefer to park on that side as it is nearer, they don't have to worry about driveways and it seems safer. They can't get to park outside their house except after 5, on Saturdays and Sundays and feel that the swimming pool will turn their road into a 7-11 carpark 7 days a week.

BorderPaul
All good points. Yes, I do have off-road parking in a driveway on the FH side and a second car that's not around most weekdays, so parking for us has never been a problem (except when the after-school club bus parks across our driveway, but they always move when I ask).
Most of my neighbours across the road seem to park fine outside their houses at all times at the moment (but we're at the bottom end of the hill - the top is heaving when Eliot Bank parents drop off/pick up) - or when you say, "They can't get to park outside their house except after 5, on Saturdays and Sundays", did you mean once we have the new pool/when the old pool was open? I guess there's no real knowing how it's going to pan out until it happens (she says, obviously)... With any luck, most swimmers/exercisers will walk/cycle!

PS Are you sure BOTH schools are in the top 5???

Satchers - have you tried Crystal Palace? My kids all have their lessons at CP, plus I swim a couple of times a week there myself. Much better since the changing rooms/showers were rebuilt and they only close the pools for galas but there's usually plenty of notice (worth checking the website if you don't go regularly). Plus there's a LOVELY new cafe with proper coffee

Thanks FIB
I'll try crystal palace

A new contract for leisure management is to be awarded next year. If you have any opinions or points you would like to raise, please contact me and I will raise them with Chris Best (Cabinet Member for Community Services).

The plans for the pools development is going to planning committee tonight and is recommended for approval by the planning officers.
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/councilanddem...202010.htm