Swimmers enjoy a dip

SWIMMERS who use the Parliament Hill Fields Lido and the Hampstead Heath ponds say they face price rises of up to 30 per cent for a dip – and that the City of London needs a radical overhaul if it is to continue to manage Hampstead Heath.

The City bumped up the costs of swimming this month and now swimmers say the charity the City funnels cash through to run the open space should have a new board of trustees appointed, and include elected representatives from Heath users. The City established a charity to run the Heath after taking on its management in 1987.

From this month, they have adopted a “direct grant” model for funding. In the past, the City would set an annual budget of around £5m to cover the Heath from a trust fund known as City’s Cash, which is worth more than £2.2bn. It would also find the money for any larger projects, which in recent years has included £22m on vital safety work to pond banks and £2m repairing the running track.

Now the City say they will pay out a fixed sum of around £4m a year and they aim to cover shortfalls by increasing commercial activity, asking for donations and raising charges for using facilities.

People buying swim season tickets have seen the cost rocket from £268 to £348. Swimmers say they are being used as “cash cows” and recent decisions reveal a public authority “completely out of touch” with the needs and wishes of Heath users.

Swimming group Papas Del Sol, an informal collective of regulars at the Lido and Men’s Pond, told the New Journal swimmers felt the City were trying to milk them for every penny they could – and that the Lido should be a public health benefit for all, not just wealthier keep-fit fans.

They said: “We’ve long had concerns that the Lido and ponds were considered to be of financial interest to CoL, and that charges weren’t just to maintain the facility. A 30 per cent increase in one year confirms this. We are extremely concerned, and not just a little furious, about this price hike. We now expect CoL to increase the price year on year, such to line their own pockets, turn the Heath into a commercial enterprise, with the net effect of excluding the people who can most benefit from outdoor swimming and contact with nature.”

Swimmer Gareth Thomas added: “The City used to consult with the various organisations. They want to use the swimming to bankroll the rest of the Heath. It already makes a profit and they refuse to publish the figures to show just how much. “They like to compare it to private facilities and say it’s cheaper but it’s not a private facility – it’s run by a public body and should have the public good at its heart.”

Swimmer Jakov Babic said: “We hear constantly from the City that they are too poor to run these facilities, that they need to raise prices, and that the Heath is run by a  charity. What swimmers want is to feel heard by the charity. The City’s the Heath management committee are out of touch as to what people who use the Heath want.

“They should have a management committee elected by Heath users, they should give the consultative committee a shakeup, and most importantly, the charity that runs the Heath should have a range of trustees on its board to reflect the views of Heath users. “This latest money-grabbing trick comes as no surprise, considering the way the City has behaved over our much-loved cafés.”

A City spokesperson said: “Most swimming fees rose in line with inflation. As a registered charity, the Heath reinvests all income into maintaining and improving facilities. “Charges fund staffing, lifeguarding, water-quality monitoring, and upkeep to keep the Ponds and Lido safe, clean, and accessible, while the wider Heath remains free to enjoy at no cost to taxpayers. Concessions and free early morning sessions support accessibility. “A combined Lido and Bathing Pond season ticket offers multi-site access and 15 per cent savings, providing the best value for regular swimmers.”