We, Mar 23, 2005Area Forum - Vox Populi
The Area Forum for Lewisham Central, Lee Green and Blackheath that took place last night finally saw the Ladywell Leisure Centre discussed at a public meeting where Lewisham residents had the opportunity to express their rock solid opposition to the scheme.
The majority councillors could finally have a real taste of the feelings of their constituents as the issue of the proposed closure of the Ladywell Leisure Centre took centre stage from the word go and stayed there almost until the end.
The meeting started with a not too long presentation about the council work and achievent. Statistics about residents satisfaction levels and all that. Not too long and well conducted. Almost enjoyable.
Then the discussion started and for the rest of the meeting the Ladywell Leisure Centre just didn't want to leave the room. It took discussing to exaustion level to finally be able to move on to other matters. The meeting at the end finished 15 minutes later.
The meeting was well chaired by Councillor Dave Bodimeade that allowed the microphone to go around and probably every person that wanted to say something was allowed to do so.
A marked contrast with last month's Area Forum for Ladywell, Brockley and Crofton Park.
Is this down to the differnt style of chairing or have better counsel prevailed after last week's by-election results?
After all, when the meeting was planned, the pool issue had been purposely left out of the agenda. Instead at the meeting, the chair proposed to discuss the pool first.
Whatever the reason for this open attitude, a lot was said, asked and answered. Positions remained as they were at the beginning, but one result has surely been achieved. A public discussion finally took place!
Questions from a very well informed public.
Answers trying to justify the unjustifyable.
One of the best thing said at the meeting probably came from Councillor Andrew Milton that argued that he can't buy into the alleged inevitability of building on the LLC because "if the Ladywell leisure Centre site wouldn't have been available, what would have Lewisham Council done? Given up on building a school?"
On 14th April, at the Ladywell Leisure Centre, our campaign will hold a public meeting on the way forward for the campaign.
This time we also invited all the Labour Councillors to come and join us and we promised that if they convince us that we are wrong and they are right we'll stop campaigning. Will they accept the challenge?
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