Hampstead Heath dam plan a threat to peace at Kenwood Ladies’ Ponds

Published: 27th January, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

SWIMMERS at the Kenwood Ladies’ Ponds fear their rural idyll could be shattered by the crunch of diggers – and that once safety work on the banks of Hampstead Heath ponds is completed, they will never be the same again.

Last week, as reported in the New Journal, managers the City of London have unveiled a £12million plan to rebuild the banks and dams of all 23 ponds on the Heath. They say the work is necessary after a government  report from the Environment Agency revealed that unless ponds have larger dams holding the water in place, homes in Gospel Oak, Dartmouth Park and Parliament Hill Fields are at risk from flooding.

Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association chairwoman Jane Shallice said swimmers have many questions over the plans

“They still have to convince people that this is work they simply have to do, and we have a series of concerns we want to discuss, such as the timing of any work,” she said. “They have to realise how important the swimming ponds are in people’s lives and they simply cannot be closed for two years.”

Ms Shallice said that the three swimming ponds may have to be shared at times during the work. She believes that the chances of a severe downpour happening are so slim that she wants to carefully scrutinise the legislation saying the work is essential. 

And the hidden glades of the Ladies Pond are another important point, the association has said. Ms Shallice added: “People come here to relax and sunbathe – it is a most beautiful place. We need to consider what happens at the end of it. This is a haven, we do not any great rolling waterfalls.”

The Highgate Life­buoys Swimming Club, based at the Men’s Pond, are asking similar questions. But secretary Chris Ruocco says they are under slightly less pressure as the work needed there will have less of an impact. He added: “The City have said they will keep at least one pond open to swim in while the work goes ahead. When this is completed the ponds will be safer, and, the work sounds essential, so let us hope it just does not take too long.”

A City spokesman said no work would start until they had met with the Heath’s consultative committee and swimming groups. He said they hoped to have a final works programme fixed by the summer before submitting a planning application by next year. 

“We may need to close all the ponds, but nothing has been decided yet,” the spokesman added.