Controversial measure voted through despite petition

THE battle may be over but the war between swimmers and Heath guardians, the Corporation of London, looks set to rumble on.
At a packed meeting in the Livery Hall of the Guildhall on Monday, the Heath’s management committee, chaired by Catherine McGuinness, voted in favour of controversial proposals to introduce honesty-style ticket boxes by the ponds.
In November, the Corporation, struggling with a potential budget deficit of some £230,000 next year, had proposed the closure of one or all of the historic Men, Ladies and Mixed Ponds, and the introduction of forced charges, to save money.
But outraged swimmers groups argued bosses had mismanaged the Heath’s £5.5m budget and vowed to fight any plans for either closure or charging. More than 100 swimmers turned up to the Guildhall on Monday to hear the committee’s verdict on the significantly watered-down cash-saving proposals and to hand in a petition of over 6,000 signatures.
Corporation boss, Michael Snyder, chairman of its powerful policy and resources committee, took the unusual step of addressing the meeting directly, saying that Corporation funds were not a “bottomless pit” and were needed to support a wide range of activities.
In an emotional speech, Christine Cohen, a former chairman of the management committee – and the only member to vote against the voluntary charging proposals – condemned the “villification” of Heath bosses, saying that the Corporation should hold its head high over its management of the Heath.
But, she added, it was necessary to work with, rather than in opposition to, the community.
She said: “We need to be pragmatic. The voluntary payment scheme is unworkable. A way must be found to ensure the continuation of swimming on the Heath or it risks steady decline. I do not wish to have that on my conscience.”
But Camden Council’s environment supremo Councillor John Thane, representing the Town Hall, said that the issue of the ponds had dominated the discussion and the Corporation had invested significant money into the Heath
He said: “Unlike the initial proposals, this revised package does not suggest irreversible changes.
“The charging could work. It doesn’t change anything but it does buy us time for a fuller debate.
“There is not an alternative that is workable. This is not a happy day but these proposals by the Chair do limit the damage.”
The CoL put off making a final decision on reducing the opening hours of the Mixed Pond – lopping three hours off opening times – until the autumn.
They plan to raise £50,000 by charging for car parking by the Lido and on East Heath Road.