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Below is a summary of the key points relevant to pond swimmers discussed at the virtual meeting of the City of London’s Hampstead Heath Management Committee on 3 June. An updated City proposal, circulated at the start of the meeting (with no opportunity to review it in advance) can be downloaded here. Please note that this plan is the City’s NOT ours. They invited comments on the original version and – following a narrow majority of KLPA members voting in favour of co-operation – KLPA representatives met with CoL on 2 June, the eve of the Management Committee meeting. Our feedback is not reflected in their document.

In short there has been no real movement in the City’s plans beyond responding to COVID-19 by controlling access to swimming in the ponds once it is deemed safe to return. Ahead of the Management Committee meeting we suggested (as we also did before lockdown) that they might suspend the increase in charges – or even offer the limited number of swims available free of charge – during the “recovery” period (see email here). As yet we have received no response and as far as we know our email was not forwarded to the committee. The City intends to go forward with enforcement of the increased charges, alongside its proposed measures to re-open the ponds and lido to very limited numbers of swimmers. The earliest possible date for opening is 4 July 2020, and the actual date will depend on national progress with controlling the spread of COVID-19 and preparedness of staff and premises. The technology needed to implement the limited re-opening, not to mention that required for the longer-term implementation of the compulsory charges, is yet to be finalised.

At our on-line meeting with the Heath management and Anne Fairweather, incoming Chair of the Management Committee, KLPA representatives outlined many practical concerns about the City’s plans, including: season ticket chaos, digital exclusion, crowds of people who haven’t booked attempting to enter the ponds on warm days, and unclear rescue protocols. So far there does not appear to have been much attempt to address these in detail, and we remain concerned that the City’s plans to re-open the ponds and lido will be riven with difficulties, even before we consider the impact of inflated compulsory charges on our pond community.

It is suggested that members with questions about the proposed re-opening should address them directly to Heath Management hampstead.heath@cityoflondon.gov.uk and/or the Chair of the Hampstead Heath Management Committee anne.fairweather@cityoflondon.gov.uk. If you do write, please also send a copy to us at klpamailbox@gmail.com so that we also understand your concerns.

Everyone will have their own questions, but points that seem particularly important include:

• How will fair rationing of available swimming time be achieved?
• How will abuse of the on-line system (e.g. multiple bookings) be prevented?
• How will those who can’t use digital services or contactless payment be supported?
• Will swimmers with disabilities be supported?
• When and how will season ticket sales resume?
• How long will these “short term” measures be in place?

Our recent survey confirmed that the majority of KLPA members continue to oppose the City’s new charging regime (enforced payment of charges increased by 100% for adults from £2.00 to £4.00, and by 140% for concessions from £1.00 to £2.40). Co-operation with limited re-opening of the pond does not imply our agreement with or approval of the City’s decision.

Now that lockdown is easing and many people are less preoccupied with the immediate impact of the health emergency, it seems possible to resume campaigning without being insensitive to those in the wider community who have suffered as a result of the virus. If you wish to be involved please email  klpamailbox@gmail.com to let us know.

Swan Rescue volunteer Louisa Green sent us this update on the swan romance. If you head over to the KLPA Lockdown Gallery you will find more pictures:

“Our long-term widow on Highgate No. 1 pond, who has remained alone since the tragic death of her mate in 2016, finally found love at The Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton in March. She was admitted after spending a few days on a neighbouring roof, and he was coming to the end of a two month stay following surgery to remove two fishing hooks from this throat. After knocking back every potential mate for four years since her love died, something about Wallace must have charmed our widow over those 36 hours she was at The Sanctuary. The pair were brought back to her pond in Hampstead the day before the lockdown started by my colleague from The Sanctuary, Gill Walker, were released onto the water by us both and, well, the rest is history! Ten weeks on, and we finally have the pitter patter of tiny webbed feet!“

The story is attracting attention on broadcast and social media and the Swan Sanctuary is receiving new donations as a result.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52880019

THREAD!

We'd like to tell you all a story of love, loss and big blue Ikea bags, by popular demand! It's the story of a swan, and takes place on London's famous Hampstead Heath (that's us). Back in 2016, two swans lived happily in the Heath's ponds (on the Highgate side)… pic.twitter.com/ia0TS0H5Vj

— Hampstead Heath (@CityCorpHeath) June 1, 2020

Warm and sunny weather has made closure of the Heath swimming ponds seem particularly cruel; thank you all for your understanding and support during lockdown. We know how desperate everyone is to get back in the water in the interests of physical and mental wellbeing, but the epidemic is not yet over and below is an update on the current situation.

Although the Prime Minister announced that swimming could resume in lakes and the sea, this does not apply to waters such as the Heath swimming ponds where legislation and Health & Safety Executive advice requires lifeguard supervision. The only exception to this is the Winter Swimming Club (WSC) at the Mixed Pond, which is licensed to allow swimming without lifeguards between October and April for certified members only. Swim England has forbidden the WSC (an affiliate club) to reopen until further notice. There are particular historic reasons for the club’s existence that would make it difficult, if not impossible, to replicate at the other ponds.

There has been much publicity about the Serpentine re-opening for swimming this week. This is NOT for the general public but only for members of the Serpentine Swimming Club, who are entitled, under a longstanding licence from the Royal Parks, to swim in the early morning without lifeguards all year round. In contrast, our association is simply a user group and membership does not confer any rights to swim.

The Royal Life Saving Society has not yet issued guidance but, having talked to our own lifeguards, we accept the City of London’s decision that under current government guidelines it is not yet possible to resume swimming and ensure either staff or swimmer safety and protection from transmission of COVID-19.

The KLPA and the other Heath swimming associations are now in discussion with Hampstead Heath management about plans to re-open the swimming ponds as soon as government guidance allows. We will be contacting you again over the next few days with more information about this, but please note that timings will continue to depend on COVID-19 infection rates and control measures.

In the meantime, if you have any queries about matters such as season tickets please contact Heath management at hampstead.heath@cityoflondon.gov.uk. To report incidents such as members of the public swimming illegally or other infringements of lockdown rules call the Heath Constabulary on 020 8340 5260 or in an emergency dial 999. Outside their hours of operation you can report the matter to the Metropolitan Police via 101 or online (in an emergency dial 999).

We have been advised that there will be a demonstration on Monday 18 May at the Hampstead Heath Boating Pond, calling on the City of London to re-open the bathing ponds.

Please note that the KLPA and other Heath swimming associations have had no involvement with this demonstration and have not supported it. We all look forward to swimming again, but not until it is safe for Heath staff, swimmers and other members of the public to do so.

One week into lockdown, winter swimmers are missing regular immersion and all of us are wondering when we will be able to return to the Pond. For anyone wanting to remind themselves of the joys of pond swimming, Curzon Home Cinema is offering the opportunity to view The Ponds film at home.

The current health crisis will, understandably, dominate the news agenda over the coming weeks, but the City of London’s plans for the ponds continues to attract media coverage, most recently in the Weekend Telegraph.

Although we won’t cull anyone who hasn’t paid from the membership list while the crisis persists, today is officially the last date by which memberships should be renewed for 2020-2021. You can download a membership form which gives details of how to do it.

FINALLY: please remember to email us if you are isolated at home and in need of practical or moral support; a number of members have generously offered to assist and we will try to match you with someone close at hand who can help.

We hope you remain safe and well at this challenging time.

The City of London has been advised that in response to the public health emergency the swimming ponds and Lido on Hampstead Heath must be closed with effect from closing time today, Saturday 21 March.

ALL the ponds and the Lido are now closed for swimming until further notice. This applies equally to the Winter Swimming Club at the Mixed Pond.

Please take seriously the need to avoid creating opportunities for the virus to spread. Even if you feel well, someone else may not be so lucky.

We will of course inform you as soon as the ponds reopen.

Stay safe and well until we are able to resume swimming.

Hampstead Heath management are carefully monitoring and following government advice while trying to keep the Ponds and Lido open. The situation may be subject to change at short notice.

A number of Heath lifeguards are currently self-isolating and one is signed-off work due to long-term illness. In these circumstances the City plans to use additional Heath Rangers to support the lifeguards with an enhanced cleaning regime and the closing time for the Ponds will NOT change as scheduled on Sunday 22nd March. Opening times will remain as follows:

OPENING: 07.00
VACATE WATER: 14.15
CLOSING: 14.30

It is vital to everyone’s health and wellbeing to observe the following principles:

• Rigorous attention to hand washing and hygiene.
• Social distancing (recommended distance 2 to 3 metres). This is particularly important for anyone who is over 70, pregnant, normally eligible for a flu jab or otherwise has a compromised immune system.
• Do NOT visit the Pond if you have reasons to be concerned about your own health or know that you may have been exposed to risk of infection.

The changing rooms (indoor and outdoor) are now closed, so changing must be done outside. There are two outdoor cold showers and more benches have been moved outside to provide additional changing spaces at safe distances. If you arrive at the Pond and find it is busy, please use the available space responsibly and do NOT crowd together – wait if necessary.

Many thanks to everyone who braved the risk of coronavirus to attend the AGM last Friday night. Once we were quorate (which nearly didn’t happen) we were able to hold elections for the committee and officers, details of which are set out below. We also thanked three committee members who stood down: Julia Dick (co-chair), Suzanna Dolata (newsletter editor) and Valerie Doulton, for bringing their many talents and great energy to the KLPA.

We went on to have a lively discussion about the City’s plans to enforce charging and increase prices from 2 May, during which many members expressed their shock and sadness about the threat to the ethos and atmosphere of the Ladies’ Pond (and by implication the other ponds) and the impact on many swimmers. We will be in touch with all members soon about the next steps.

The following were re-elected to the committee: Nicky Mayhew (chair), Ruth Hallgarten (vice-chair), Alison Assiter (treasurer), Pauline McCullough and Opi Bell (joint secretaries), Nicole Colombo (who will take over from Ruth as membership secretary), Lucy Zanetti and Vicky Joseph (joint newsletter editors) and Amanda Faber. Newly elected members are Mary Powell (who returns to the committee after a well-earned rest from it), Beth Feresten, Pauline Latchem and Harriet Wills.

And finally, thanks to the patience of Suzanna Dolata, who has edited the KLPA newsletter with such skill for the last ten years, the Spring Newsletter, her final edition, is now available for download. In the time since it was written the public health emergency has escalated, but we hope you will still find it interesting and Suzanna has asked me to pass these words on to all members:

‘I’ve enjoyed editing the newsletter for the past 10 years and many members have told me that they really enjoyed reading it. In the process I learned a lot and had fun! But everything must come to an end so Vicky Joseph and Lucy Zanetti are taking over from me. They will need the stories of your swimming adventures (and much more) so please keep sending them in. Thank you for your support and kind words over the years – it meant a lot! Special thanks go to Jane (Shallice) who encouraged me to take the newsletter editing in the first place. See you at the Pond, and keep safe!’  Suzanna  xx

Best wishes and good health to you all,
Nicky

The City and our lifeguards have decided that, in the current coronavirus crisis, swimmers using the indoor changing room and showers and the lifeguards having to maintain them presents an unacceptable health risk. So, while the pond remains open, the indoor changing area is now closed for the foreseeable future.

The outdoor changing room, outdoor showers and other outside areas remain open for use.

If you haven’t already renewed your membership, it will fall due at the end of March. For the foreseeable future we will NOT be able to collect membership forms, cash or cheques from the pond, so please renew your membership online via email.

Please take care in these difficult times. If you find yourself isolated and in need of support, please email us and we will see if any other local KLPA member may be able to help.