Artist’s impression of how Heath sauna could look

• THERE is much we could learn from our Scandinavian and Nordic cousins.

From their gentle social democratic policies that show an enlightened and progressive society where people care for each other to how they don’t see themselves as some kind of world police, these northern Europeans seem to have this living well lark pretty much sorted.

So I was sadly not surprised to read that the plan by a charitably natured sauna enthusiast to build a not-for-profit sauna at Hampstead Heath’s Mixed Pond has been so badly misunderstood by a small clique intent on protecting their privilege, (Hampstead Heat? Swim­mers sweating over ponds sauna bid, November 16).

Saunas are wildly popular and widely available to all, no matter your income, across Scandinavia and the Nordic countries. They have been medically proven to be beneficial to our health in numerous ways.

The people behind the not-for-profit plan are offering to give people the option of using a sauna, built on a scrappy piece of ugly and badly maintained concrete, and use the proceeds to make the mixed ponds open to all through the winter.

The only reason to say no would be so members of the small and seemingly exclusive winter swimmers club, (they decide who can join for example), can continue to enjoy their own private pond during the so-called closed season.

Hampstead Heath is for everyone, and increasing access to help public health should be wholly welcomed, and Mark Lamb, behind this plan, should be commended for his selfless and generous offer.

The swimmers who are objecting have no grounds on cost or the look, and must not be allowed to snobbishly say it would “change the social mix”. Who are they to offer such a thought; it suggests they think only certain people are welcome?

If having a new a sauna means the pond is open to all throughout the year, we should grab this opportunity and be extremely thankful for it, too.

JIM CONNELL, NW5