Forest Hill tells Mayor "keep the pools"

The much heralded consultation on the future of Forest Hill Pools stumbled to a beginning at the first of two consultations at Sydenham Girls School on Wednesday night (October 5th 2005). Stumbled because most of the consultation documents have yet to be circulated and there was no obvious publicity to be found either at the Pools or nearby Library. Nevertheless the word had got around and about 150 people came to hear what Lewisham's Mayor (and Forest Hill resident) Steve Bullock had to say and express their own opinions.

The consultation documents were there to be read. You can find a copy (a large pdf document) <here>

Steve & the council's consultant from Capita outlined the two options being presented as a choice for the Pools' users. These are:

• Option 1: Retain and refurbish the existing building
  This option will provide the same facilities as currently exist, but to a slightly higher specification. The centre would have two swimming pools of the same length and width, a fitness studio, a wet changing area, a meeting room, and an activity room. The first floor gallery in the main pool would be removed.
  Approximate cost: £4 million.
   
• Option 2: Build a brand-new swimming facility on the existing site
  This option will provide a new singlestorey facility built on the current site. The new facility will comprise one 25m six-lane swimming pool with changing facilities that are accessible to disabled people and which meet modern standards. This option would allow a more accessible car park layout. It would include a fitness studio, however, there would be no rooms for meetings or other activities.
  Approximate cost: £4.7million.
  

The costs are similar so the decision dependes on the weighting of advantages and disadvantages for each option. These can be summarised as:

• Option 1: Retain and refurbish the existing building
  Advantages Retains the flexibility of two pools and the historic facade
  Disadvantages High running costs, limited life and difficulty of accessing changing rooms, possibility of early catastrophic failure leading to closure
   
• Option 2: Build a brand-new swimming facility on the existing site
  Advantages Modern pool built to latest standards, lower running costs and longer life, opportunity to landscape Dartmouth Road approach
  Disadvantages Shared pool or more restrictive times for different users, no amenity rooms
  

The audience was receptive, good tempered and about 30 people took the opportunity of asking questions or making points. Most of those expressing a preference were in favour of the refurbishment option. Here are some quotes:

Option 2 is only half as good...
The Pools have lasted 120 years, 1960s pools are failing now, why the projected short life?
£4m for refurbishment seems a high figure, it was only £1.5m in May, why?
Two pools means the family can enjoy different uses at the same time...
Can English Heritage give a grant to the oldest working pool in London?

I've stopped going because of the disrepair - but I love the facade
In 1996 we came up with better changing room access, why are they not in option 1?
The Pools, the Library and Louise House are a cohesive set of attractive buildings...
Can we have an option 3?
Will option 2 hit the same delays as affected Downham Pools?

Please don't knock down a beautiful building ...
What are the revenue projections for options 1 & 2?
Hobson's choice of short life or less facilities...
Can we have a referendum?
Will the Mayor commit to keeping Louise House?

The Mayor & consultant responded that the two options were feasibility studies and not proposals. That offering more options would cause confusion and proposals to enhance option 1 with rear entrances and water recycling would take it outside of the £4-£5m window available from the council for the project.

It became apparent that the council regard option 1 as being a higher risk option. Not only is the projected life difficult to access, but the dangers of unexpected problems arising during the project had meant that the actual identified refurbishment cost of £2.7m needed to be contingenced up to the £4m stated.

English Heritage had been approached about possible grants but even more favourable schemes had been declined. The Pools refurbishment or rebuild would be entirely council financed so as long as the decision is taken before there is another call on the money - the commitment and timescale would be safe.

The Mayor stressed it was a consultation and not a referendum. Sadly he could not legally delegate the decision to the people. It was his, taken on advice and listening to opinion.

Councillors Pike (LibDem), Whiting & Wise (Labour) made contributions. Rather than possibly mis-reporting them - Forest Hill has asked them to submit their view for publication which will be included here when received.

Another consultation meeting will be held on October 27th at Sydenham Girls School. All residents of Forest Hill & Sydenham are invited to complete and return their preferred option contained within the consultation document or make other representations by 25th November.

Editorial comment

Forest Hill is here to provide independent and impartial reports on our community and to give all parties equal opportunity to contribute their viewpoints. However it would be unfair not to report the personal impression the evening made on the reporter who is not a user of the Pools.

It would be difficult reading the consultation document not to come to the conclusion that the council would prefer to go for option 2. The lack of financial information and detail on both options negates objective decision making by the people of Forest Hill. Inevitably this leads to a natural desire by the people to keep what is known - ie option 1. Thus the consultation might be seen as inevitably leading to collision between the council's desire to minimise financial risk and the people's feeling they are being kept in the dark.

This is not a criticism of the council. Indeed many people during the evening were grateful for the mayor's unequivocal commitment to keep swimming pools in Forest Hill. Consulting the people was also very welcome. It is, perhaps, that we have much to learn before consultation is as informed and powerful as it should be....

A short history of Forest Hill Pools can be found <here>