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Heath chief's
pond problem
THE new chairman of Hampstead Heath has refused to rule out
the possibility of closing the Heath’s bathing ponds or
introducing compulsory charging to raise money.
Robert Hall, from North Hill in Highgate, a retired real estate
lawyer and former Conservative councillor in Haringey, is due
to take over the Heath’s top position from outgoing chairman,
Catherine McGuinness, in May.
At a management committee meeting on Monday, he told members
that funding was still one of the key issues facing the Heath.
He said: “The big challenge is still funding. We need to
find a sensible balance which will enable the ponds to be kept
open and free and be rational and recognise that there are funding
issues which the management committee has to deal with.”
Asked whether he would rule out closing the ponds or introducing
compulsory charging, Mr Hall said: “We will have to look
carefully at what the voluntary charging system for the ponds
has produced and at other sources of funding like the ice rink.
“As far as I am concerned certainly the ponds should remain
open. But there are no clear answers at the moment.” |
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