Fr, Dec 15, 2006The great press review
The diary page of today's Guardian reports to the nation on some hilarious spin offs and follow ups to the end of our campaign that have entertained Lewisham in the past few weeks.
When, last May, Labour's control of Lewisham council ended after 35 years, it was widely assumed that the slump in support for Mr Tony's men was due in no small part to a bitter battle over the fate of the popular Ladywell baths, which Labour mayor Steve Bullock was hellbent on demolishing to make way for a new school, and residents were determined to keep. Despite swearing that he would "not be changing his mind", Cllr Bullock last month did, announcing that the pool would stay open, the school would be built elsewhere, and that this was, of course, "the result I was always striving for". The Save Ladywell Pool Campaign, he added magnanimously, was "a great example of how local people can get their views heard". Oddly, the mayor told Time Out that the campaign, led by "a very small group of backward-looking people", was "pathetic". Presumably to put an end to all this confusion, the front page of Lewisham Labour Action now proudly proclaims: "Mayor Saves Ladywell Pool." Fancy that!
Here's a link to the tactfully entitled "Mayor Saves Ladywell Pool" Labour Party leaflet and here instead you can read the News Shopper article clarifying what particular manoeuvre of the Mayor did it.
Here's instead a link to the article on the Time Out magazine published on the same day of the decision to keep Ladywell Pool open where the Mayor declared that the campaign is erm...pathetic.
We finish this press review with a picture of a group of campaigners on the front page of the Mercury with the wonderful title "it's job done".
Full Council congratulates our campaign
On 22nd November 2006 Lewisham Council unanimously approved the following motion:
"This Council wholeheartedly endorses the decision by Mayor and Cabinet to select Lewisham Bridge as its preferred site for the new school to create an all-through 3-16 integrated school. This Council therefore agrees to work constructively with Mayor and Cabinet to minimise the risks associated with this project and overcome any potential obstacles in order to ensure the new school is delivered by the target date of 2010.
This Council also wishes to congratulate the long standing and vigorous campaign run by the Save Ladywell Campaign and The School for New Cross/Local Education by Parents groups. In particular this council commends the significant roles played by both Max Calo and former Councillor Helen Le Fevre".
The motion was proposed by Cllr Johnson and seconded by Cllr Britton, it then incorporated as an amendment part of another motion by Cllr Morris to be seconded by Cllr Milton that was consequently dropped.
Confused? Cllr Andrew Milton clarifies it on his blog here.
Here's the full minutes of the Council meeting.
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