For those of you who haven’t yet seen it, here is an article from yesterday’s Observer. The KLPA chairs will report back on progress with the consultation as soon as there is more news.
STORM UPDATE
The weather forecast warns of continuing storms tonight, so the swimming ponds will not open until at least 08.00 tomorrow (Sunday 16 February). Please check for further email updates before travelling to the pond.
SURVEY ON POTENTIAL CHANGES IN SWIMMING CHARGES
You may be aware that the City of London, which manages Hampstead Heath, is currently reviewing its management of the swimming ponds. This includes the possibility of increasing charges and enforcing payment which has, until now, been ‘self-policed’. The KLPA is aware that there are varied views amongst swimmers about charging arrangements: from those who believe that swimming in the ponds should remain free, to others who routinely and willingly pay to swim. To inform our discussions with the City we would like to capture the opinion of our members on key issues. The KLPA is mindful of wishing to ensure that swimming remains accessible and affordable for everyone who wishes to visit the ponds. Current charges can be found on the Hampstead Heath website here. Please note that the City has not yet indicated by how much they would increase charges in either the short or long term. Please help us to respond to the City of London by completing the survey here by no later than 10.00 on Wednesday, 19 February. It should take no longer than two minutes and your replies will remain anonymous. Thank you. |
AGM – 13 MARCH 2020
THE KLPA AGM WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2020
PLEASE JOIN US AND BRING A CONTRIBUTION TO THE USUAL ‘POT LUCK’ SUPPER
TIME: Doors open at 6.30pm; the meeting will start promptly at 7.00pm
VENUE: Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution, 11 South Grove, Highgate N6 6BS
Elections for the committee will be held and we welcome new nominations. Nomination forms can be printed out here; printed copies are also available from the lifeguards’ office.
Annual subscriptions for 2020-2021 are due by the end of this month. To renew your membership at the AGM please bring your money (£5 in cash or a cheque payable to Kenwood Ladies Pond Association) in an envelope on which your name and email address are printed clearly. Better still, renew online by paying your subscription direct to our bank account but PLEASE use your surname as the reference and email klpamailbox@gmail.com to tell us. If you don’t do this we won’t know you have paid and you may be removed from our membership list. Bank details appear on the membership form which you can download here.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!
WHAT PRICE FREEDOM TO SWIM? HAMPSTEAD POND CHARGES TO HIT THE VULNERABLE
The press release below has been issued today on behalf of the Highgate Men’s Pond Association, the Highgate Lifebuoys, the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association, the Mixed Pond Association and the United Swimmers’ Association, membership groups representing swimmers at the ponds on Hampstead Heath. Consultation with the City of London will resume tonight, Tuesday 11 February 2020.
The City of London is about to railroad through changes at the world-famous swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath that will hit the most vulnerable, including those for whom access to the ponds is vital for their mental and physical health, say swimmers’ groups.
The groups say the City of London appears to have decided to enforce payment and increase charges even though it is in the middle of a consultation.
Frustrated swimmers say they have been asking the City for years to improve payment options but nothing has happened. The City’s decision, they say, is not only damaging to those who rely on the ponds, it is against the City of London’s own ‘Heath Vision’ of 2019.
If allowed to go through, the move has potential implications for wild swimmers across the country, say the groups representing regular swimmers at the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed ponds.
Swimming in the ponds was free for centuries until the City of London took over ownership of Hampstead Heath and, in 2005, decided to introduce charges. Some swimmers maintain there is a historic right to swim free of charge, but many others are willing to voluntarily pay a reasonable contribution towards the running costs and staffing of the ponds.
User groups point to the City of London’s extreme inefficiency in collecting payment from those who are willing to pay. They say that for years they have been asking the City to make payment easier, but they have failed to introduce contactless payment, replace ticket machines that don’t work or make it possible to renew season tickets online.
Swimmers also believe that the introduction of mechanised gates or turnstiles and staff charged with ‘enforcement’ would destroy the peaceful and natural environment that attracts people to the ponds in the first place. In addition, they fear that people deterred by charges would be tempted to swim in non-lifeguarded ponds on Hampstead Heath at considerable risk of injury, illness or even death.
Chris Piesold, chair of the Highgate Men’s Pond Association commented ‘It would be tragic if the City of London, one of the wealthiest local government authorities in the world, was allowed to destroy the unique character of Hampstead Heath and its ponds.’ He continued, ‘we stand ready to work with the City to find imaginative and sensitive ways of achieving sustainability in the current financial climate.’
Julia Dick, co-chair of the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association, added ‘we believe we have a duty to ensure that swimming in the ponds remains affordable and accessible to all.’
The review follows advice to the City of London from the Health & Safety Executive that it should increase lifeguard provision at all its swimming facilities at a time when the budget for all its open spaces, including Hampstead Heath is frozen. The user groups say they recognize the financial pressures but want the Heath management to work with them to achieve an increase in revenue and find ways of making the ponds more sustainable.
POND CLOSURES
The stormy weather today has forced closure of the Men’s Pond as well as the Ladies’. The Lido remains open.
LOVE THE POND ON VALENTINE’S DAY!
Lifeguard Jane Smith invites KLPA members to visit the pond on Friday 14 February at 07.30 for a silent swim and shared quiet breakfast to celebrate ‘Love the Pond Day’ . Please bring with you silence and some of your favourite things to eat, to share a meditative mid-winter moment.
Morning swimmers who would rather avoid the event are encouraged to swim between 07.00 and 07.30 or after 08.45.
SUNDAY 9 FEBRUARY POND CLOSURE
Due to the warning of high winds the Ladies’ Pond will be closed on Sunday 9 February. Women are welcome to swim at the Men’s Pond providing it remains open (it doesn’t have the same problem with overhanging trees). Many thanks to the swimmers and lifeguards there for accommodating us.
We hope that the weather and opening will be back to normal by Monday.
‘THE NEW YORKER’ ARTICLE
The New Yorker magazine of 27 January 2020 features this article “THE SUBVERSIVE JOY OF COLD WATER SWIMMING”. Definitely worth a read!
PETITION FOR WILD SWIMMING IN WALTHAM FOREST
Several KLPA members have already signed this petition calling for part of Lea Marshes to be reclaimed and made into a place for wild swimming. If you agree that we need more wild swimming opportunities in and around London, please sign here.