I do not accept this statement that has been made a number of times recently. As I have stated previously there is no reason to believe that the housing market in 2012 will not be healthy once more. Andy Hornby, CEO of HBOS (Halifax) back this view today with a belief that the mortgage market in the US will turn round in 2010. The Sunday Times today speculates that it will be 2011 when the housing market picks up.
What I am sure is that by 2012, when the Olympics are in London and Forest Hill is connected to the tube system, the housing market in Forest Hill will be healthy. I do not even expect that prices will be lower than today's levels.

If we are to see decent leisure facilities in Forest Hill we need the council to consider the financial viability of housing on the site and find a way to minimise the funding gap to provide leisure. As Max has pointed out, housing and leisure is a funding model that has been used all over London. I see no reason why the current housing market conditions should lead to any delay in building the pool and I do not think the council should be encouraged to find excuses to leave the pools and Louise House empty for another 2-10 years.

In the council's previous plans, which have now been shelved, we would have had a pool probably in 2011, but that required work to begin in the first half of 2009. I hope that this timetable does not slip too far due to the council needing to reconsider their plans for Louise House. The time that has already elapsed without a pool cannot be used as an excuse to add further unnecessary delay, this will only lead to an end to swimming facilities in Forest Hill and a serious problem for local businesses.

I hope that we can work together to put pressure on the council to bring swimming back to Forest Hill as soon as possible.