I don't want the closure of one pool at all, I just notice that the manouvre of the Council leads there.
The link between the Bridge and FHP is an historic one, it was Council's policy until 2005 that the two pools are too close to one another and as FHP is older it should be dis-invested and eventually discontinued, as in fact did happen.

There is also one striking fact that's never been mentioned, that the 5 pools policy although stated is an "aspiration" only but it has never been implemented, and that means that LBL has never actually paid for 5 pools in one financial year, this in turn means that if they really had 5 pools they'd have to increase their revenue budget for running pools of about 20%.
So I think that it's only realistic to think that if a pool is built in Willow Way then the Bridge is at high risk, and we're entering a downturn, how likely is it that they increase their revenue budget for pools of 20%? If the Council is determined to move away from the site and build a new pool closer to Sydenham I think it's better to be realistic than to be run over by events.

But I'm not advocating closing the Bridge, what I am saying is that this may well be the Council's long term plan, so it's better not to bury the head in the sand but to ask them to either re-commit to 5 pools or plan for an appropriate 4 pool policy that can satisfy the needs of Lewisham's swimmmers and a 4h pool that is adequate if that's going to be the case.

As I said I support option one. It's cheaper than option 2 and as such more likely to bring something within our lifetime. We're in a downturn, money matters more then ever did.
And I don't support Willow Way in any way, it's a terrible choice and I agree that pools should be sited in or very near town centres and transport hubs, but apart from the specific site location the Council's proposal is that of moving the pool away from where it is now and sell the site for housing and the Mayor and Cabinet papers are heavily biased towards that option.