A LEADING member of Hampstead Heath’s consultative committee has launched an attack on the Corporation of London over the way it handled their recent budget crisis.
Michael Hammerson, (pictured) who represents residents’ group the Highgate Society on the committee, called the Corporation’s management of the issue “deplorable”.
Writing in Buzz, the society’s quarterly newsletter, Mr Hammerson said: “The consultative committee was given too little information too late to be able to play a proactive role in resolving the issues. The situation has not been helped by the Corporation’s deplorable public relations over the affair.”
But Mr Hammerson also complimented the Corporation on its overall management of the Heath saying “they have otherwise managed the Heath very well”.
His comments were welcomed by other members of the committee, made up of 23 members from a range of organisations who meet twice a year to reflect the interests of various user groups.
Bobby de Joia, who represents the Heath Hands volunteers said: “I agree 100 per cent with Michael. The management of the Heath has been exemplary but there should have been a stronger effort to consult both us and the swimmers in a more open and transparent way.”
But a Corporation spokesman told the New Journal that the consultative committee had first been told of the financial situation in February last year – though he acknowledged that closure of the ponds was not mentioned.
He said: “We knew it was going to be emotive but we have to look after the interests of all the users, however unpopular it may be.”
In February, Heath bosses backed down on proposals to close the men’s, ladies and mixed bathing ponds to save an estimated £500,000 a year on the Heath’s £5.5 million budget.
Instead, they are introducing honesty-boxes this summer that will bring in an estimated £80,000 a year in donations.