When it comes to predicting when or if a new swimming facility will be built, Lewisham is like a duck out of water.

Apart from the recent addition to Wavelengths, all other new swimming facilities have been massively behind schedule.

Are people aware the new 'flagship' leisure centre at Loampit Vale has been further delayed by at least another year. The design submitted for planning approval last August is about to be withdrawn and a new plan consulted apon this week.

A pool that was originally proposed to open by 2005.

Similar to Forest Hill the pool at Downham was closed in 1997 because the council failed to maintain the roof properly. Residents were informed a replacement would be built by 2000.

At the 2002 election the current Mayor the Downham pool would be built by 2004. It took another 3 years merely to sign the contract and the new pool eventually opened in 2007.

So far the Mayor is yet to make up his mind, a planning application is yet to be made, there's also the matter of change of use for Willow Way.

Watching property programmes on TV it would seem a higher value is put on land with planning permission. Would a developer pay for land at Dartmouth Road that has no planning permission, that requires change of use and is complicated by the existing 'open space'.

For ideas about pools and leisure centres the exhibition for the new scheme for the Loampit Vale site is as follows....