HAMPSTEAD Heath’s managers, the City of London, have been warned a concerted campaign of non-payment and protest will meet any decision to force through compulsory ticketing for pond swims.

Last night (Tuesday) the Heath’s consultative committee – a panel made up of nominees of civic groups – lined up to heavily criticise the City’s plans to increase charges and make them compulsory.

The City of London, which is the UK’s richest local authority and have a trust fund worth £2.9 billion from which they draw on to pay for part of the Heath’s annual £5 million bill for upkeep, took on the management of the Heath following the abolition of the GLC in 1987. It tried to introduce charging in 2005, but were beaten by a High Court challenge. Instead, it put in ticket machines which could be used voluntarily.

The City’s Heath management committee will decide tomorrow (Wednesday) on whether to pass plans to increase the cost of swimming by up to 140 per cent – and end over 150 years of free access. It says the new measures are needed as the popularity of cold water swimming rises and advice from the Health and Safety Executive calling for extra lifeguards.

The City has warned of budget cuts to the Heath in November as they seek to build a new £288 million concert hall near the Barbican.

City figures show it spends £747,000 on the ponds each year – but an ‘honesty’ box style ticketing system brings in only £67,000.

Influential groups including the Heath and Hampstead Society, the South End Green Association and the Vale of Health Society all called on the City to pause and reflect on the damage it would suffer if it pushed ahead with compulsory ticketing.

Swimmers told the meeting at the Parliament Hill Staff Yard that they have implored the City for years to make a voluntary payment scheme easier to use – but their requests have fallen on deaf ears.

Chair of the United Swimmers Association Robert Sutherland Smith said: “There are ghosts here tonight – those who saved Hampstead Heath in 1871 for what economists call a ‘free good.’ Take your moral lead from them.”

He added that Sir Thomas Marion Wilson – the money obsessed land owner who tried to build on the Heath in the 1800s, and led to the 1871 Act saving it from development – lived on “in the approach of the City of London.”

“The Metropolitan Board of Works, The LCC or the GLC never sought money for swimming in its ponds,” he said. “The reputation of the City will be in shreds. It has reneged on its undertaking to the Hampstead Heath Act, and shown an uncharitable disposition to the hardest pressed Londoners.”

Highgate Men’s Pond Association chairman Chris Piesold said: “
In 10 years, framed as efficiency savings, the Heath and pond spend in real terms has been continuously cut. Thus the problem is not just the increase in numbers and HSE requirements – it also results from cuts.
 The brutal reality is the City will continue to cut its support for both the Heath and swimming and expects the swimmers to make up the difference.
”

He added the charges would disproportionately hit the least well off and vulnerable.

“The plan risks protests, will create law and order problems, and likely fail because of the very short implementation planned,” he said.

He called on the City to implement what is known as ‘option two’ – making it easier for voluntary payments to be made.

Kenwood Ladies Pond Association chair Nicky Mayhew told the meeting: “The ponds are world-famous as an essential part of the beauty of Hampstead Heath. People may swim in them, but they are not sports facilities. Each has its own history and culture, and they inspire poetry, literature, songs and films. People don’t write books about swimming pools or leisure centres.

“The Ladies’ Pond offers a unique single sex space for women and girls to relax, including those from faith groups that demand modesty. It is unthinkable that the City would exclude people in need of sanctuary who could not afford the price of admission.”

The consultative committee agreed to tell the management committee that it backed Option Two – which calls for better signage and easier ways to pay a voluntary charge.

Chairwoman Heath Management Committee Karina Dostalova, said: “Swimming numbers have doubled to a record 655,000 every year and we clearly need sustainable management model. We are proposing to continue subsidising swimming by 42% and all income generated from proposed charges will be reinvested directly back into the facilities.

“We will always provide affordable, subsidised swimming. We are proposing a new support fund for people who can’t pay to swim and freezing season ticket prices, so the ponds remain inclusive.”