Mayor took credit for our campaign

10:48am Tuesday 28th November 2006

WE ARE delighted Ladywell pool will be kept open until the replacement is built (News Shopper, November 15).

This shows when people get together, politicians have to listen.

At Lewisham People's day in July 2004, Lewisham Respect got a fantastic response to a petition against the closure.

Over time, more people and politicians got behind the campaign.

Despite thousands of signatures, lobbying councillors and publicity stunts, the Mayor Steve Bullock and the Labour councillors continued to insist there was no alternative.

We warned the Labour Party would be punished if they continued to ignore public opinion.

They ignored us and they paid the price, losing their majority after 35 years.

On the day the Mayor announced his change of mind on keeping the pool open, he was quoted in Time Out magazine (November 8) describing the campaign as "pathetic" and run by a "small group of backward-looking people".

Despite this, we were delighted the Mayor finally listened to reason, but we found it incredible that a Labour party leaflet delivered four days later claimed "Mayor saves Ladywell Pool". Unbelievable spin.

The people of Lewisham need to decide if they still want this discredited directly elected mayoral system.

Ian Crosson
Save Ladywell Pool Campaign
Lewisham