MAYOR Steve Bullock has made a U-turn in the Ladywell Pool saga by deciding to re-examine alternative sites for a new secondary school.

Mr Bullock says he is still convinced Ladywell Leisure Centre is the right location for a new school.

But he agreed at last week's Lewisham mayor and cabinet meeting to take a "fresh look" at other sites in response to a motion raised at full council on June 14.

It asked the mayor "to appoint independent advisers to investigate more appropriate sites for a new school in the north of the borough, rather than Ladywell Leisure Centre".

Twenty-seven councillors voted in favour of the motion and 25 against, Labour's first defeat by opposition councillors in 35 years.

The U-turn comes after mounting pressure from opposition members, who have been calling for the decision to locate the school on the Ladywell site to be reviewed.

Mr Bullock says he welcomes the decision to examine other sites for a new school providing it fits within the Building Schools for the Future programme and is still affordable.

The results of the site investigations will be reported to the mayor and cabinet on September 27.

Mr Bullock said: "We are asking consultants to review potential sites in Lewisham where we can deliver the school within the current timetable.

"There is only one site to do that, which I still think is the Ladywell Leisure Centre.

"If they come up with something we haven't thought of, I will be delighted.

"What I want is to give members of the council as much information as we can.

"If they think it's more important to keep Ladywell open and delay the opening of the new school we need the relevant information to do that."

He added: "What's driving me more is securing more secondary places. I have no burning desire to close Ladywell sooner than we have to."

If the site was to be reconsidered then a completion date for a new school could be put back from September 2009 to September 2012.

New School Campaign secretary John Hamilton said: "We very much welcome the decision to try to find a better site in the north of the borough rather than go ahead with this flawed plan of using the Ladywell Leisure Centre site."

Save the Pool Campaign leader Max Calo said: "This is a massive U-turn. There is more hope than ever in saving the pool."

Liberal Democrat group leader Mark Morris said: "I welcome the mayor's decision to take a fresh look at new sites across the large borough.

"It's vital Ladywell pool doesn't close until a new leisure centre is available."

STEVE BULLOCK QUOTES

  • "I will not be changing my mind."
  • "We need a new school and Ladywell is the best place for it."
  • "It is what the people of Lewisham want."
  • "I have every intention for the new school to be built on the Ladywell pool site"
  • "Ladywell is the right decision for the future of this borough."