Mo, Mar 27, 2006Forest Hill Pools closed
Lewisham Council is closing Forest Hill Pools with immediate effect following urgent health and safety advice.
Individual users can continue to use other Lewisham leisure facilities.
Alternative arrangements are being discussed with school and club users on an individual basis.
Regular health and safety assessments of the Forest Hill Pools are made because of their age. Concerns were raised over structural safety during a recent inspection.
A surveyor was called in to assess the state of the roof over the main pool. The surveyor has unequivocally recommended the immediate closure of the pools. A copy of the surveyor's report will be made available to interested parties.
Detailed investigations of the building will now be undertaken to establish the extent of the problems with the roof. The pools will not now be able to be re-opened until their full refurbishment. It remains the policy of the Council to maintain swimming at this site.
The closure of Forest Hill Pools, caused by decades of under-investment in repair and maintenance, creates a void in the swimming provision of the Borough that cannot be easily filled.
Without it the repercussion of an eventual closure of Ladywell Pool would be ever more damaging.
Expect Ladywell Pools busy to bursting point with schools, much more pool time for the swimming club and less time for free lane and leisure swimming.
It just shows how close we always are to fatal under-provision and how Ladywell can't be allowed to close before a replacement is effectively delivered. ...read more...