Sniffer, I suggest you read before you speed. I don't recall anywhere 'advocating' Willow Way - I am merely suggesting it is wise to wait for the consultation and to see which one is I am happy to concede if it looks like its not going to produce a good result for Forest Hill but first of all I want to see full consideration of all the issues. As Baboonery put it all so well ( and much better than I ever could) we are now having to face an imperfect reality following the unfortunate history of this site and the facility and its good I think to understand that the pool may not be the first thing on Steve Bullock mind when he wakes up every morning. I think how we have all got to this point needs to be appreciated. The last few years did not happen in isolation.

This time last year the Council were proposing to demolish both Louise House and the pools themselves by July 2008. They were prevented from doing so after concerns were voiced by various societies and the stakeholder group and a view taken that it was perhaps best to listen to the stakeholders and work with that group to secure a good result for Forest Hill. And then there was the unfortunate and vexatious listing of Louise House which put an end to those plans. This action was carried out by some who were in fact taken into the Councils confidence about the their proposals so I would imagine that this has perhaps hardened the Councils view on public consultation and who they listened to. Unfortunate given the otherwise interesting constructive and thoughtful views of many other in the stakeholder group, especially the well reasoned and convincing arguments of Satchers.There may have been some questions of wisdom in the Councils haste but ultimately the intention was definitely there, however the momentum has been lost and we have a compromise offer on the table.

I think we should also not lose sight of the various wrangles that have gone on in respect of the pools in the last 25 years,the various petitions, protests, Duncan Goodhews involvement, etc, 'the now we are open now we are shut' sort of thing, and the extent of the public feeling that resulted in the Council keeping them open. With hindsight the greatest favour would have been to have demolished this years ago however the Council conceded to public opinion on more than one occasion.

Sniffer, I dont understand why making money from Dartmouth Road land sale is such an horrific idea; whose money do you think it is anyway? Its yours and mine. They are obliged to get best value out of every deal. Do people not appreciate how hard councils are finding it these days to raise capital funding in the current crisis? Can we blame them for optimising their capital assets which I agree with you, is likely to be the main reason for preferring Willow Way?

Lets see what the consultation throws up, but lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater once again.