Lewisham mayoral candidates are pledging their support to the Save Ladywell Pool campaign. Reporter SAMANTHA PAYNE spoke to them about their plans for the pool if they win the elections.

Since it started in July 2004, the Save Ladywell Pool campaign has fought hard against the leisure centre being knocked down to make way for a new secondary school in the borough.

Campaign leader Max Calo sent a petition with 5,300 signatories to the council opposing the closure of the pool.

He has also asked questions at council meetings and appeared on radio and TV informing people of the issue.

The 50 active members are currently delivering 20,000 leaflets and consultation questionnaires asking Lewisham residents their opinion on the pool closure.

Now the opposition mayoral candidates are joining forces to keep the much-loved pool open and believe the new school should be sited elsewhere in Lewisham.

Conservative candidate James Cleverly is committed to saving the pool until the replacement pool is built.

The father-of-two said: "I've no confidence the council will deliver a new pool. It took three years to start refurbishment work at Forest Hill pool.

"It's not practical to have a school at the Ladywell site.

"How is it right across the political spectrum we can all see this as a bad idea but the Labour Party can't?"

"The argument that if the Ladywell pool stays education in Lewisham will suffer is nonsense."

Liberal Democrat candidate Chris Maines also opposes the closure of Ladywell pool.

The 48-year-old said: "Look at what happened with Downham pool. When it opens next year it will be 12 years the area has been without a swimming pool. How do we know the same thing won't happen in the heart of Lewisham?"

He believes the Ladywell site is the wrong place for a new school.

He added: "It's essential the school is located in the right place otherwise it will become an expensive white elephant.

"If I won I would review the whole secondary school provision and find out what's the best location."

Lewisham Council considered 20 alternative site options but Ladywell pool was the only site allowing the council to open a new school within the 10-year Building Schools for Future (BSF) programme.

Green candidate Mike Keogh argues other site options north of the borough should not have been dismissed.

The 45-year-old said: "If I win I'd overturn Steve Bullock's decision to close Ladywell providing there are no legal implications. I'd build a new school on the Silwood Triangle open land area in the north, owned by the east London line where the marshalling yard is."

Save Ladywell Pool campaign leader Max Calo welcomed the support from the opposition candidates.

He said: "I'd encourage people to make use of the power of their vote to save the pool."

But Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock is not backing down from his position.

He said: "I have every intention for the new school to be built on the Ladywell pool site. It is what the people of Lewisham want.

"There will be no loss in swimming opportunities in the borough."

To support the Save Ladywell Pool campaign, call 020 8690 4242.

  • A hustings event for all four mayoral candidates is being held at the leisure centre on April 1 from 2pm to 5pm.

New school facts (from Lewisham Council)

  • The new school will open in September 2009 on the site of Ladywell Pool, Lewisham High Street, as part of the 10-year BSF programme.
  • A major change to BSF, such as removing the new school, would jeopardise the £186m of funding needed for the rebuilding or refurbishment of nine secondary schools.
  • The pool site is also the only option to build a new school within the timescale needed to meet the demand for more secondary school places in the borough, especially in the north.