THE future of London's oldest swimming baths has been secured, after council bosses agreed to give the building a multi-million pound revamp.

Residents feared the 120-year-old Forest Hill Pools would be knocked down and replaced with a new, smaller facility.

But Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock has now confirmed the Victorian building, in Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, will be spruced up and retained, thanks to the £4m investment.

Heritage chiefs are also set to consider listing the building, in a further attempt to preserve the "much-loved" landmark.

The decision to retain the pools follows a two-month public consultation, which garnered more than 1,700 responses.

Residents were asked to choose between two options either retain the existing two-pool facility or knock it down and replace it with a single pool.

Following the consultation, Mr Bullock told last week's cabinet meeting he has decided to rubber-stamp the refurbishment option.

He said: "The pools are much-loved by residents but not so much by the people who use them. It needs more user-friendly facilities.

"We want to keep the building because it is a real landmark and a building of considerable architectural merit."

The consultation document says the refurbishment will take around 14 months and should be completed by April 2008.

The building will be totally redecorated and disabled access will be improved.

A meeting room used by a range of community groups which would have been lost if the facility was rebuilt will be retained.

Interest group the Sydenham Society is also pleased Forest Hill will still be able to offer swimmers two pools.

Society chairman Pat Trembath added: "The principle of retaining the old building will be popular with most people.

"A landmark building is being retained but more importantly, two pools are being retained."

Forest Hill ward Councillor Phillip Peake welcomed the refurbishment but said he was disappointed at the lack of options presented by the consultation.

Lib Dem Cllr Peake said the consultation "lacked ambition", adding he would have liked to have seen a much bigger revamp.

English Heritage is now set to consider an application to make Forest Hill Pools a listed building.

It will make its decision after carrying out a full assessment of the site, which is expected to take around four months.