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Last Update: Friday 19th November 2004
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NEWS   By SUNITA RAPPAI


Heath ponds: closure threat

SWEEPING proposals to reduce the cost of running Hampstead Heath – including the closure of its historic swimming ponds – have sparked outrage amongst user groups.
The Corporation of London, managers of the 900-acre Heath, say that urgent cost-cutting measures are needed to address an overspend in the £5.5m budget – and prevent a further cash crisis next year.
Catherine McGuiness, CoL director in charge of the Heath, said: “We have seen this situation developing over the last two years. In previous years we were able to squeeze funds from other headings but now we have a strong understanding of how the budgets are working.
“We now have no choice but to look carefully at priorities – how we can achieve the best possible balance for users on the Heath? We might also have to look at a further tightening of the belt in the future to keep costs down.”
But the proposals, which include the introduction of charges for using Parliament Hill Lido before 9am – a time when the Lido has been free to swimmers – and the possible closure of either one or all of the Heath’s ponds, have outraged user groups and staff.
Robert Sutherland Smith, chair of the United Swimmers Association, accused the CoL of a grandiose management style which had caused the spiralling costs.
He said: “To blame an overrun of some £250,000 on the weather, as they do, is simply unbelievable.
“Closer to the true explanation is the fact that the heath now suddenly has a bigger, more generously paid bureaucracy.
“Why should London’s citizens be expected to pay the cost of wanton expenditure and neglect by Corporation officers?”
Heath managers say that they are confident they are not overstaffed, after a long over due and thorough restructuring of staff by Superintendent Simon Lee.
But park keepers told the New Journal they were almost certain to face sackings, and if staff numbers went down, the careful balance between the Heath’s delicate ecology and being open to all would be threatened. One park keeper, who did not want to be named, said: “We can’t believe the figures. We’ve been told its to do with the poor performance of their stocks and shares, but the Corporation is so rich we can’t believe they aren’t able to absorb a hit of this amount.”