Gaz - I agree with you that a responsible council would now be looking at the issues you list - rezoning of Willow Way, cutting building costs on option 2 etc.

There are two local architects with plans of how option 2 could be delivered much more cheaply without loss of facilities These are both senior partners in architectural practices, both with experience in building pools.

Their plans should be looked at seriously - this isn't going to cost LBL any extra money - and they could save local taxpayers a fortune.

But one gets the overwhelming feeling that the mayor and officers are simply unwilling to listen. Let's hope I'm wrong.

As the petition numbers start to swell and the mood takes hold that option 2 (despite the delays and cost) is the one that could win, I can't help feeling, that this simply isn't a course of action that makes electoral sense to the mayor or our local MP. Even if option 3 scrapes through (a very unlikely outcome in my view) many of the local population will be resentful that the pool has been moved out of Dartmouth Road, and that's bound to have voting repercussions. If option 2 wins, people won't have sympathy with the mayor's dilemma - electorates very rarely think like that (ask John Major and Ted Heath!).

I'm sure the mayor doesn't want to paint himself into a corner (and neither do I - I want to vote for him). So please listen to the stakeholder group with an open mind.