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Historic Week in Lewisham For the first time in living memory the Labour Party has lost two crucial votes on Lewisham Council. On Monday 12th June a critical report over the decision making process to find a new school site was passed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee. One of the report's key recommendations was that alternative sites to the Ladywell Leisure centre should be examined for a new school site. On Wednesday 14th June a motion proposed by Cllr Darren Johnson and seconded by Cllr Ian Page was also passed by 27 to 25 votes. The motion urged the Mayor to not close Ladywell leisure centre until a new pool was open in the centre of Lewisham and reiterated the need for other sites to be properly examined for a new school site. Councillor Darren Johnson (Brockley Ward - Group Leader) added: "Ladywell
Leisure Centre is the wrong site for a new school. Labour refused
to listen to the alternatives and paid the price with heavy
seat losses. The Mayor appears frightened of making a U-turn but
this would be the most popular U-turn in the history of the borough"
Motion in the name of Councillor Johnson seconded by Councillor Page - Full Council Wednesday 14th June 2006: "This Council does not believe that a convincing case for closing Ladywell Leisure Centre in 2007 has yet been made. The current plans have failed to command public support and the recent local election results reflect that. The Council therefore calls upon the Mayor to appoint independent advisers to investigate more appropriate sites for a new school in the north of the borough, rather than the Ladywell Leisure Centre site. The independent advisers will be commissioned jointly by the Mayor and the Leader of the largest opposition group, in consultation with councillors of all parties, parents' representatives and teachers' unions. Council believes Ladywell Leisure Centre must not close until a new Centre in the vicinity is fully operational and all Councillors must receive regular reports on all progress made and/or difficulties encountered. Furthermore this Council welcomes the decision of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 12th June to accept the Minority Report by Cllr Fletcher and former Cllr Le Fevre into the decision making process in relation to the establishment of a new secondary school." Votes for Motion
Contact: The Green Party: Cllr Johnson - Cllr_Darren.Johnson@lewisham.gov.uk The Liberal Democrat Party: Cllr Morris - 07833674744 - Cllr_Mark.Morris@lewisham.gov.uk The Socialist Party: Cllr Page - Cllr_Ian.Page@lewisham.gov.uk The Conservative Party: Cllr Britton - Cllr_David.Britton@lewisham.gov.uk
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