Please see below a precis of notes taken by Sydenham Society representatives at the Stakeholders meeting held on 27 August

Results of Public Consultation

It was explained that results on preferred options, reasons why and comments on designs were obtained from varying sources, such as the exhibition at Peoples Day at Mountsfield Park, exhibition at FH Station, and Library and from meetings with ?Focus Groups? (not specified who these are). These came in the form of responses to the on-line questionnaire and returned hardcopy questionnaire.

Publicity for the consultation was through local press, local newsletters, mail drop and posters.

There had been 691 responses ? approx 50/50 on-line and by hardcopy. 93% were from the ?FH area?, 57% female, 46% between ages 35 ? 54, 5% disabled and 15% BME.

33.4% had shown a preference for Option 2, 29% for Option 3 and 27.1% for Option 1. 10.5% did not vote for any of the Options. There had also been a number of letters received in addition to the above.


Comments about the Consultation

Agreed by local representatives present that consultation had been very poor, extremely rushed and held at wrong time of the year. Leaflets had been very late being delivered ? reports from around the table that they had not been received in Derby Hill Crescent nor in Bampton Road. Other late deliveries to local residents had been pointed out to officers and Cllr Best during the leafleting period.

It was agreed that there had been a severe lack of information about the council?s intentions and that local residents were still confused ? many thinking the pools were still to be refurbished.

The results are to be collated and included in the officers? report to Mayor and Cabinet. Request from around the table that the paucity of the consultation be referred to in the report to the Mayor and Cabinet on 17 September. The report will be available on Lewisham?s website about a week before the meeting


Implications of Listing of Louise House

Still to be considered by Lewisham. Current proposals/Options are no longer viable.

Question asked about possibility of de-listing. Considered unlikely given the reasons why EH had decided the building should be listed. EH comments about the importance of the ?Victorian welfare buildings? buildings as part of the group could provide extra protection for the pools building, but there is an apparent reluctance by Lewisham to consider this.

There was a request that a scoping exercise be carried out to ascertain the capacity of the site.

Request that the refurbishment of the existing pools should also be considered as a possible future Option for the site. This was turned down by Cllrs Best and Russell and officers ? the Mayor had taken decision to demolish last February and a rebuild with pool and learner pool is what is still planned. Cost implications cited amongst others as reasons for this. Site visits to Louise House to be offered to Stakeholders but no site visits to the Pools on Health &Safety grounds.

Cllrs and officers appeared not to be aware of the FH Town Centre Conservation Area review currently being carried out. Understood that this will recommend that the CA be extended to include Dartmouth Road up to and including the Library.