I will not back down

10:50am Wednesday 10th May 2006

DEFIANT Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock says he will still demolish Ladywell Leisure Centre despite his party taking a battering at the ballot box.

Mr Bullock lost more than a third of his councillors during last week's elections, including all three from the Ladywell ward.

Disgruntled campaigners say they used their votes to give the mayor a "slap in the face" and show their anger at the closure.

But the re-elected mayor says he is not for turning on the issue, which has cost him a host of political allies including deputy mayor Gavin Moore.

Mr Bullock said: "I will not be changing my mind. We need a new school and Ladywell is the best place for it."

The saga of the leisure centre and its swimming pool has dominated the political landscape in Lewisham for the past four years.

The centre, in Lewisham High Street, is due to be demolished next year to make way for a new secondary school despite a wave of public opposition.

Last week saw Ladywell's trio of Labour councillors Carl Handley, Pauline Morrison and Abdeslam Amrani booted out in favour of three Green Party members.

Mr Bullock, who polled more than 25,000 votes to secure his own victory, added: "I did not expect the Ladywell councillors to lose even though I knew they would have a difficult campaign.

"We are sorry to lose them but the Green Party has fought a very effective campaign."

Mr Handley says the controversy over the leisure centre cost him the job he has held for 12 years.

But despite losing out the defeated ex-councillor still backs the decision to close the centre.

He added: "Most of the people who signed petitions opposing this don't even use the bloody pool.

"At the end of the day we all know it is going to be knocked-down. The sooner it comes down the better for me."

Save Ladywell Pool campaigner Max Calo says the election results show Mr Bullock would be "crazy" not to reconsider his decision.

He said: "People are infuriated by what is happening to the pool but our Labour councillors let us down.

"This is a real slap in the face for the mayor."

Labour now has just 26 of the borough's 54 councillors, but as a directly-elected mayor Mr Bullock retains overall responsibility for decision-making.

Room for all in new cabinet?

Mayor Steve Bullock is set to include councillors from rival parties in his new-look cabinet.

News Shopper understands the mayor has approached Grove Park Conservative councillor Barrie Anderson, to be the new cabinet member for resources.

And the mayor could also turn to other opposition members, having lost cabinet loyalists including deputy mayor Gavin Moore and member for the environment Andrew Brown.

Mr Bullock would not be drawn on the rumours but said his new team would "reflect the political landscape we now have in Lewisham".

The Lib Dems and Greens both ruled out joining the cabinet but Cllr Anderson said he would consider an approach if it was made.

Explore News Shopper