Mo, Oct 31, 2005Revealed: when it all went wrong!
With our activity at the Council asking questions and sourcing documents using the Freedom of Information Act we're now starting to be able to paint a proper picture of what went wrong and when at the Council and how the situation we are in started to take shape.In January 1999 Lewisham Council approved a document entitled "Sport and Active Recreation Strategy".
In this document it was made clear that the Council was no longer interested in providing sport and leisure and approved a series of measures to get rid of the burden.
We scanned the two most interesting pages of the document, entitled "Pools and Leisure Centres".
You can download them here as pdf (388 Kb).
In the document the Council decides to switch from its traditional role as "direct provider" to:
...an enabling role in seeking both public provision to the private sector, and public access to private facilities...
It then outlines an Action Plan for the following years and makes it clear that the priorities are those of the private sector partners and explains that those private interests have been identified through a proper Market Research.
Paragraph 12.12 says:
Exploring and obtaining the necessary approvals for a new community pool at Downham and a new main wet and dry (double sports hall) leisure centre in central Ladywell/Lewisham (replacing the existing Ladywell leisure Centre in three to five years, and the Crofton Leisure Centre).
That means that the Council wanted to do a consultation with foregone conclusions to be allowed to move the Ladywell Leisure Centre to suit the best interest of the private investors (interests identified by the Market Research).
If this redevelopment means a downsizing with the result of under-provision and a part of the population - those that don't fit the profile of the fitness centre user - unable to fit in the schedule of the new centre, well, that seems to be none of the Council's business.
Paragraph 12.14 of the same document says:
Developing Forest Hill Pool's health and fitness facilities while retaining one pool.
Doesn't that sound familiar? ...read more...