Pond regulars claim notice will trick people into paying

Heath swimmers Joy Walters, Dermot Greene with, centre, the writer Al Alvarez

TICKET machines were installed at the ponds on Hampstead Heath this week amid accusations that deliberately misleading posters have been put up to force swimmers to cough up cash.
The honesty box-style, self-policing ticket set-up was introduced by the Corporation of London after a bitter nine-month battle with swimmers determined to keep the ponds open and free.
But on Tuesday morning, when the new machines were installed, swimmers at the mixed pond say signs suggest the charge is compulsory. One poster said: “Introduction of charges: As of Saturday 18th June, a charge of £2 for adults and £1 concessions will be implemented.”
Joy Walters, of the Mixed Ponds Action Group, said: “This is outrageous and the Corporation are going against what they promised. I cannot afford to pay for what is my right anyway.”
A Corporation spokeswoman denied the poster was misleading – and stressed that the fees were entirely voluntary.
She said: “We specifically worded the poster so it would not say you have to pay. It is up to the swimmers what they do.”
The new machines installed at the three ponds will be operating by the weekend.
Labour councillor Dermot Greene, who swims each day on the Heath, said he understood the cash problems the Corporation was facing.
He added: “I see it from a swimmer’s point of view, but I know the problems the Corporation has. They need to have adequate funding.”
Former Heath lifeguard Jeff Howorth, a member of Highgate Lifebuoys swimming club, said its committee had recommended no one pays. He added: “I’m going with what my club says – so I’m not buying a ticket.”
But not all swimmers are against the charge. Writer Al Alvarez has swum at the ponds for 65 years. He said: “This isn’t the first time you have had to fork out here. When I was a young man there was a person here who would mind your clothes for 6d.
“I will put in a couple of quid, and I am only going with it because they have decided to charge people who leave their cars on the Heath car parks. So I feel it is fair.”
Meanwhile, there was better news for users of the Parliament Hill Lido.
The showers in the swimming pool, which opened at the beginning of June after a £2.9m refit, broke down days afterwards – but a Corporation spokesman revealed a new boiler had been fitted on Tuesday and the showers were back in working order.