City of London

Swimmers’ groups at London’s historic Hampstead Ponds have hit out at a proposed doubling of charges, saying they are unworkable and will hit the vulnerable hardest.

The groups say City of London has failed to listen to them and warn that heavy-handed plans to enforce the proposed charges are likely to lead to chaos.

Following its review of management of the swimming ponds, the City of London this week revealed recommendations that charges for adult day tickets should double from £2 to £4 this summer, with payment to be enforced by Heath Rangers.

Nicky Mayhew, co-chair of the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association said: “Swimmers are horrified by the threat of heavy-handed enforcement of payment, which would destroy the ethos of these unique and incalculably precious places, as well as most likely excluding those who cannot afford to pay or will be put off by enforcement.”

“We have asked the City first to make it easy for people who wish to pay to do so, and then to let us work with them to explore imaginative and sensitive ways of reducing the gap between costs and revenue. At the moment, they do not seem to be listening.”

Chris Piesold, chair of Highgate Men’s Pond Association commented: “We are shocked that the City is attempting such a massive increase in charges and change in culture. For years swimmers have complained that it is hard and sometimes impossible to pay, and the City now seems intent on punishing us for its own ineptitude at collecting money.”

If approved, the move would end the ‘self-policed’ payment system that has existed since the City first introduced charging at the swimming ponds in 2005. “There is massive potential to increase the uptake of season and day tickets at current prices if the City would just listen to us and sort out proper signage and payment methods,” said Mayhew.

Earlier this month pond user groups conducted a survey of members which showed that an overwhelming majority (75%) think the current charges are fair, but nearly 70% say increased charges would affect their ability to swim.

Margaret Dickinson of the Mixed Pond Association added, “Doubling admission charges will be provocative, the City’s attempts to close the Mixed Pond at around the time they first introduced charges in 2005 turned into a bitter battle that no one would want to see repeated.”

Swimmers have called an emergency meeting later this week to discuss their response to the proposals. At present 24% of members buy season tickets and more than half of the rest pay to swim.

For more information contact klpamailbox@gmail.com or call Nicky Mayhew on 07773 327392.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Following its recent consultation with Hampstead Heath swimming groups, the City of London has identified five options for a ‘charging model’ to be implemented at the swimming ponds from 2 May 2020. These will be put forward to the meeting of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee on 9 March 2020 for discussion before the HHCC makes its recommendations to the Hampstead Heath Management Committee which meets on 11 March to decide on next steps. A summary of the City’s proposals can be found on the KLPA website: https://www.klpa.uk/news.

The City of London took over ownership and management of Hampstead Heath and its swimming ponds in 1989 and introduced charges in 2005. Prior to that swimming on the Heath – like roaming – had been free to all. Since then charges have been paid on a ‘self-policed’ basis.

11 February, 202011 February, 2020

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.