‘Neglect’ shuts swimming pool (From News Shopper)

‘Neglect’ shuts swimming pool

4:28pm Tuesday 4th April 2006

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THE closure of a swimming baths has sparked fears hundreds of schoolchildren will be forced to miss out on swimming lessons.

Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road, Lewisham, was closed until further notice last week, because of damage to the roof of the building.

Swim campaigners now fear the borough's pupils will miss out on the chance to practice their strokes, with Ladywell Leisure Centre also due to close next year.

Lewisham Council decided to close the 120-year-old Forest Hill facility after a council- contracted health and safety inspection revealed structural damage to the roof.

The baths are set undergo a £4m transformation but work on this is not expected to start for at least two years.

Save Ladywell Pool campaign chairman Max Calo says Lewisham's depleted swimming resources will not be able to cope with this.

He said: "Swimming is very important for children.

"It helps them to keep fit and is a vital life skill.

"I'm concerned without Forest Hill and Ladywell, there will be no school swimming in Lewisham."

Mr Calo claims the council is guilty of failing to maintain the pool adequately.

He added: "This closure is not about money, it is about neglect."

Pat Trembath, chairman of residents' group the Sydenham Society, also feels the closure could have been avoided.

She said: "The building should not have been allowed to deteriorate in the first place."

Forest Hill ward councillor Phillip Peake says the closure shows the planned refurbishment is "too little, too late".

Lewisham Council says it cannot give any timescale for reopening until a "full survey" of the building is carried out.

A spokesman said: "We are working in partnership with schools and clubs and are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to their swimming activities."

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