Month: March 2020

The Consultative Committee decided almost unanimously to reject the City’s recommended Option 3 (payment enforced by Rangers at all times) in favour of Option 2 (payment encouraged by Rangers staffing the ponds on busy days). There was also a strong sense from the committee that charges should be frozen until 2021 while Option 2 is trialled and the City introduces clear signage and a variety of options for making payment easily. The aim would be to monitor the effectiveness of Option 2 in generating increased revenue to meet rising costs.

This is not a final decision. The recommendations now go forward to the Hampstead Heath Management Committee meeting at the Guildhall on Wednesday 11 March for their decision. If you can, please join us for a further demonstration of swimmers’ feelings outside the Guildhall at 3.00pm on Wednesday.

You can download a copy of our submission to the Consultative Committee here (this will also go to the Management Committee).

As most of you know, the City of London will make its decision next week on charges and compulsory payment at the swimming ponds. Of the options proposed by the City (summarised on the KLPA website), they recommend Option 3, with charges for day tickets increasing from £2 to £4 (concessions to increase from £1 to £2.40). We, the user groups oppose this and are asking for Option 2 to be trialled for this summer season with NO increase in charges.

The KLPA, HMPA, MPA and USA have been invited to address the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee on Monday 9 March, before they make their decision on which option to recommend to the Hampstead Heath Management Committee which meets on Wednesday 11 March. Ahead of the meeting we have made written submissions to be included in the document pack for committee members which summarise the points we wish to make. The main submission can be downloaded here and the appendix (which deals with the difficulties of making payment) here.

If you can, please join fellow swimmers in peaceful demonstrations on Monday and Wednesday to show your support for Option 2 and a freeze on charges. Demonstration details here.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Write to the Corporation of London with your views.
Tweet or follow the campaign
#freedomtoswim   #pondsnotprofit   

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Come and support our representatives at the critical meetings with peaceful protest.

MONDAY, 9 MARCH
Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee
GATHER 18.30, outside Parliament Hill Staff Yard.
We will have placards and t-shirts available with the campaign messages.
Some participants will be able to watch proceedings from the public gallery.

WEDNESDAY, 11 MARCH
Hampstead Heath Management Committee
Gather 15.30, outside the Guildhall, Basinghall Street EC2V 7HH
We will have placards and t-shirts available with the campaign messages.
Some participants will be able to watch proceedings form the public gallery.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Write to the Corporation of London with your views.
Tweet or follow the campaign
#freedomtoswim   #pondsnotprofit   

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Come and support our representatives at the critical meetings with peaceful protest.

MONDAY, 9 MARCH
Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee
GATHER 18.30, outside Parliament Hill Staff Yard.
We will have placards and t-shirts available with the campaign messages.
Some participants will be able to watch proceedings from the public gallery.

WEDNESDAY, 11 MARCH
Hampstead Heath Management Committee
Gather 15.30, outside the Guildhall, Basinghall Street EC2V 7HH
We will have placards and t-shirts available with the campaign messages.
Some participants will be able to watch proceedings form the public gallery.