​MIXED POND ASSOCIATION AGM 2019

In October the Hampstead Heath Mixed Pond Association (MPA) AGM was held.  The full meeting minutes can be read via the document link below.

It was a well attended meeting (all paid up members are welcome to come along). Margaret Dickenson stood down as Co-Chair (but remains on the committee) and was replaced by Kasia Sikora who has joined Mike Sands as co-chair's of the committee.

The full list of committee members is now as per below:
Kasia Sikora and Michael Sands - Co-Chairs
Lola Culsán - Secretary
Margaret Dickinson - Newsletter and Web Content Editor
Charles Marks - Membership Secretary/Bank Signatory
Julia Dick - Committee Member
John Weller - Website Development and Merchandising
Michael Sands – Bank Account signatory
Janette Rutterford -Committee Member & Treasurer
Felicity Moir and Ana Szerwo - Events Team

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NEWS FROM THE CITY SWIMMERS' FORUM

The reason the MPA exists is to ensure that we (as a group of mixed pond swimmers) have a say in how the location is run and managed and this is done through the City of London and the Swimmers' Forum.  We have representatives at all the regular forum meetings.

The main points raised in March 2019 affecting the Mixed Pond were cycle racks, water quality, showers and rubbish bins.

The cycle racks are delayed again because  the site chosen has been judged not flat enough and  and a new one has been proposed. We expect to be consulted on this when the plan is available.  The water aerator in the pond which would help improve water quality further will not be functional until an improved electricity supply is installed and this is now in the City’s plans (but perhaps not happening until next year). We asked again if the aerator could be removed and stored in the meantime.  

We raised again the need for swimmers to be able to wash/shower properly in the changing areas.  As we are aware, showers cannot be installed until an improved water supply can be brought in but during the winter swimming there are hosepipes in the changing areas.  During previous summers these have been removed because the one in the women’s enclosure causes flooding and because the lifeguards consider there is a risk of misuse during periods of peak crowding.

We suggested the flooding in the women’s could be solved by bringing in a stand like the one in the men’s enclosure and fixing the hose over the drain. We suggested that the risk of misuse could be solved by disconnecting the hose only during such peak periods  which normally occur during only a small part of the season. By contrast every day swimmers come in the morning wanting to be able to swim and shower before work.  Our request seemed to be accepted but we will have to see what happens.  

We have asked for the bins with holes in the lid to be replaced because squirrels get caught in them.  One or two have been replaced but others are still there. We learnt that the City is planning to make radical changes to the way it collects and disposes of litter and that we cannot expect much change before these plans are implemented.