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Downham Lifestyles contract finally signed

The South London Press reports today of Lewisham Council finally closing the deal with the Leisure Connection Ltd led consortium to build and manage the Downham Lifestyles project.

The contract was signed last Wednesday.

The development is due to be completed in early 2007.

Its delivery by 2004 was part of the Mayor's manifesto at last elections.

Commenting on the deal the outgoing Mayor of Lewisham Steve Bullock forgetting all about his broken promises commented:

"I am absolutely delighted. It will be a state-of-the-art centre that everyone can enjoy for years and I look forward to be one of its first users"

That sounds familiar. Here's what he had said in October 2003 about Ladywell:

"As long as I am mayor there will be a top class swimming facility in the centre of our borough and I am looking forward to being the first person into the pool when it re-opens."

Mark Morris, Libdem councillor for Downham commented:

"It's a wonderful news that it's going ahead but a shame we had to wait so long."
The Mayor promised in his manifesto that it would be complete by 2004.
The people of Downham have been seriously let down by him.
What's occured is very serious and I don't think that has been fully appreciated"

We have to take this as a big warning.

Now the outgoing Mayor of Lewisham Steve Bullock has to justify the decision to close Ladywell and is going around the borough promising a "state-of-the-art flagship" swimming centre to replace Ladywell pool in the centre of Lewisham by 2010.

By our investigation he doesn't have much of a chance to fulfill this promise either. ...read more...