‘How ironic that restriction is being brought in at Hampstead Heath pond’

• HAMPSTEAD ponds have always been an amenity that Londoners could use without any charge and your correspondent raises some important issues about them, (Naturists have history at the ponds and the City needs to sort out its policy, June 18).

It was Margaret Thatcher who removed control from the GLC which formerly always had run them well, to everyone’s satisfaction, and gave them instead as a free gift to the unelected City of London Corporation, which is now bringing in these charges.

The division screen at the Men’s Pond, that was installed without notice being given, serves no purpose and should have been removed some time ago.

It is also the only place in the whole of London where naturist sunbathing is freely permitted and has always been popular, but which most probably will also be removed, once more without consultation of users.

The corporation, in previous meetings with Naturist Action Group, agreed that naturist sunbathing is not prohibited under its rules, and had given an undertaking that this would in future be permitted on Hampstead Heath, subject to proper behaviour being observed, and park officials had been instructed not to intervene when this was conducted properly.

How ironic that restriction is being brought in at this pond. Control of the ponds should be restored to the successor body the Greater London Authority, which is accountable to the electorate, and open to discussion over their use with the public rather than left with an unpopular authority that has no mandate from the people of any kind.

JOHN McPARTLIN,
N2