Saving The Mixed Pond & Fighting Compulsory Charges Since 2004
Shortly before the Covid-19 lock down temporarily stopped swimming on the Heath the Corporation of the City of London decided to raise charges for the ponds and to start rigidly enforcing payment.
The decision was almost unprecedented in that it ignored advice not only from the swimmers’ associations and the Heath Sports Committee but also from the Hampstead Heath Advisory Committee. The last body represents a wide range of local residents and Heath users and although not mandatory, its decisions have previously nearly always been followed by the City’s Management Committee. The City’s action was the more alarming because it followed a period of supposed consultation during which the swimmers’ associations provided evidence that quite modest changes in how existing fees are collected could enable to City to more than cover a projected rise in health and safety costs.
Covid-19 and lock down has made fighting these charges a challenge though we continue to resist and discuss alternative options with the City of London.
In the context of this decision it is helpful to look at an earlier conflict which took place in 2004/5 and is documented in the film City Swimmers, directed by MPA and KLPA member Margaret Dickinson and made by a volunteer team of media professionals who knew and loved the ponds. For the first time, the whole film can now be watched below.
Up until 2005 swimming in the ponds on Hampstead Heath had been free but at that time the City attempted to close the Mixed Pond altogether and to impose compulsory charges at the other two swimming ponds. A vigorous campaign by swimmers succeeded in keeping all the ponds open but, in spite of opposition, the Corporation did introduce charges. A compromise was eventually accepted in that the City agreed charges would remain modest and be lightly enforced.
That situation is radically different today and all the Heath swimming groups continue to fight the charges.
The decision was almost unprecedented in that it ignored advice not only from the swimmers’ associations and the Heath Sports Committee but also from the Hampstead Heath Advisory Committee. The last body represents a wide range of local residents and Heath users and although not mandatory, its decisions have previously nearly always been followed by the City’s Management Committee. The City’s action was the more alarming because it followed a period of supposed consultation during which the swimmers’ associations provided evidence that quite modest changes in how existing fees are collected could enable to City to more than cover a projected rise in health and safety costs.
Covid-19 and lock down has made fighting these charges a challenge though we continue to resist and discuss alternative options with the City of London.
In the context of this decision it is helpful to look at an earlier conflict which took place in 2004/5 and is documented in the film City Swimmers, directed by MPA and KLPA member Margaret Dickinson and made by a volunteer team of media professionals who knew and loved the ponds. For the first time, the whole film can now be watched below.
Up until 2005 swimming in the ponds on Hampstead Heath had been free but at that time the City attempted to close the Mixed Pond altogether and to impose compulsory charges at the other two swimming ponds. A vigorous campaign by swimmers succeeded in keeping all the ponds open but, in spite of opposition, the Corporation did introduce charges. A compromise was eventually accepted in that the City agreed charges would remain modest and be lightly enforced.
That situation is radically different today and all the Heath swimming groups continue to fight the charges.
City Swimmers from Christopher Reeves on Vimeo.