South Norwood Swimming Pool Update

Folowing the election of the Conservatives to control of Croydon Council in May 2006, the long-awaited demolition of South Norwood Pool and building of South Norwood Leisure Centre was cancelled and a refurbishment of the site ordered instead. The promised Spring opening of the refurbished swimming pool failed to materialise and the pool finally re-opened in late September. Unfortunately the story does not end there. PPR have put together a timetable of some of the key events in this debacle.

• 24 January 2008 – Users of the pool report their belongings are being stolen while they are swimming.

• 23 January 2008 – The Swimming Pool is forced to close twice in a week. First because the inadequately sized boilers fail to heat the water then because Chlorine supplies are allowed to run out - leaving the water in the pool contaminated.

• 25 September 2007 - The refurbished pool finally opens! The all new South Norwood Leisure Centre would have been open 2 weeks later.

• 22 April 2007 - PPR don swimming gear to mark the promised opening of South Norwood pool.

• Spring 2007 – Based on the new administration’s promises the pool should now be open. Billboards furtively updated to advertise reopening of pool in Autumn rather than promised Spring. Residents of South Norwood deprived of pool for another summer holiday period.

• 21 March 2007 – Croydon Guardian publishes leaked Council information confirming that vandalism to dormant pool has cost tax payers a further £583,000.

• 01 August 2006 – Conservative MP for Croydon Central Andrew Pelling attends PPR meeting to support the campaign.

• 18 July 2006 – PPR lead protest at Council Meeting and present a petition with excess of 3,000 signatures registering their objection to proposals.

• 10 July 2006 – PPR organise community meeting for residents to get together and discuss their concerns. Senior members of Tory Council failed to attend and left their local councillor, Sue Bennett, with a last minute mandate to defend their proposals.

• 24 June 2006 – PPR lead protest with local residents outside South Norwood pool.

• May 2006 – PPR initiate protests against the decision and begin press campaign to highlight and garner support. PPR maintain press campaign throughout.

• May 2006 – New Administration announce hitherto undisclosed plans to refurbish South Norwood pool rather than build a new leisure centre.

• May 2006 – Tory Council is newly elected.