AN EDUCATION campaigner has decided to stand for Mayor of Lewisham because he feels the current incumbent is "failing the children of this borough".

New School Campaign secretary John Hamilton says if elected he would keep Ladywell Leisure Centre and build a new secondary school in the north of the borough.

And he would make sure his cabinet would be made up of all parties represented in the council to "end the one-party state which has dominated Lewisham".

Mr Hamilton's decision to stand for mayor comes after the School Organisation Committee (SOC) agreed on March 16 a new secondary school should be built on the site of Ladywell Leisure Centre, Lewisham High Street, Lewisham.

The father-of-two says when current mayor Steve Bullock was elected four years ago, he promised a new school to meet the growing crisis in secondary school provision in the north of the borough.

Mr Bullock originally said it would open in September 2004 in temporary premises.

But the new school will not open until September 2009 on the site of Lewisham's main swimming pool and leisure centre.

Mr Hamilton, 50, of Pendrell Road, Brockley, said: "Not only has Mr Bullock failed the children of this borough, he has shown himself to be incapable of showing the leadership a directly-elected mayor needs to give.

"He prefers to hide behind the excuse of listening to the advice of his officers.

"I will include in my cabinet members of all the parties represented in the council, ending the one-party state which has dominated Lewisham for too long."

The heating engineer added: "I think the people of Lewisham are fed up with this lack of leadership.

"I am standing in the hope the electorate will choose me as a candidate with integrity, who will put the interests of the ordinary people before the get-rich-quick developers."

Green Party candidate Mike Keogh fears John Hamilton standing as mayor will cause a split vote.

The 45-year-old said: "We are worried about losing votes.

"But as long as people turn out to vote in a democracy, that is what is important, even if it is only on this single issue."

Liberal Democrat candidate Chris Maines added: "I welcome John Hamilton standing. He will highlight what the existing mayor failed to deliver.

"I am not worried about split votes. People have a second vote if they do not vote for me as their first preference."

Conservative candidate James Cleverly said: "It will split the vote. It is how these things work.

"I am supportive of him wanting to bring these issues to prominence but the best chance of getting the pool saved and a school in the borough is to vote for me."

Steve Bullock declined to comment.