12:00am Saturday 1st January 2000
DOWNHAM residents have built a model showing how a new leisure centre would serve their community if a Lottery award was granted for its construction.
The three-dimensional model, constructed by children from the Wesley Halls Youth Club, was exhibited to the people of Downham at the Wesley Hall Community Centre last Saturday.
It is hoped the model will show the Government's Lottery Commission why Downham should be awarded £13 million to build the centre.
During the exhibition, people had a chance to voice their views on the kind of sports and recreation activities that should be provided by the centre. Some parts of the development have already been chosen following a questionnaire survey of local residents.
These include a 25 metre long, eight-lane pool; a library; supervised creche; education facilities; café; sports hall; dance studio and gym.
The leisure centre model was built as part of a pioneering consultation method called Designing For Real which allows people to say how these facilities should be arranged on the site.
Lewisham Council used the consultation to involve the elderly, people with disabilities, and young people who would not normally take part in the process. Council leader Jim Mallory said: "This is a new approach to consulting for Lewisham. It is important that the whole community have their say.
"In addition to the usual methods of consulting, Designing For Real allows residents to take part in putting forward their ideas for their leisure centre."
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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