Massive boost for Downham residents
12 Jul 2001
Ref: 2516/01
Downham residents
are today celebrating the news that the Government has awarded Lewisham
Council £ 10.6m to provide a much needed range of recreational, leisure
and health facilities in area.
The money has been made available under the government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
The two areas set to benefit from the cash boost are the site of the closed baths and library and Downham Playing fields.
A state
of the art lifestyles centre which will include a 25 metre pool, fitness
studio, gymnasium, library, community room, exhibition
space, music/drama studio, creche and two GP surgeries. A community
nursing facility will also be built.
The existing pitches on
Downham Playing fields will be retained and new mini-soccer pitches,
a pavilion, children's play area, footpaths and seating for the
public created.
Lewisham Council will now be looking for proposals from selected prospective contractors to create the new facilities.
The appointed
contractor will be responsible for looking after the new buildings and
managing the leisure provision. They will also be responsible for
providing accommodation for the Council to operate its library and other
community facilities and for Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark Health
Authority to provide the doctors surgeries and other community health
care services.
Lewisham Council and the Health Authority will be working together to promote and support healthy lifestyles in the borough.
Councillor Alyson
McGarrigle, Deputy for Culture said: "This is fantastic news forthe
residents of Downham. I hope the news will come as a boost to
those residents who have campaigned for much needed community facilities
for the area.
"Improving community facilities in Downham is a
key priority for the Council and this funding success means that we
will now be able to provide the first class facilities that residents
truly deserve."
Downham resident Eileen Ganney said: "This
is fantastic news for Downham residents especially the young people
who will now get the facilities they have been crying out for."
