Outdoor swimmers may soon be splashing about in north London, as plans are afoot to reopen the Hampstead Heath as early as next month.
The City of London Corporation is setting out preparations to reopen the swimming at Hampstead Heath in line with government guidance on Covid-19. Swimming facilities may be able to open under "Step 3" of the lockdown lift – which means a July 4 opening may be possible, in line with restaurants, pubs and bars.
The organisation has set out temporary plans to ensure the safety of swimmers and lifeguards. Measures will include specialist training for lifeguards, the introduction of a booking systems to manage numbers, and additional cleaning of facilities between sessions.
Plans for Parliament Hill Fields Lido will also include family sessions with a ratio of one adult per two children from the same household. The plans also include one-way swimming systems in the lido, as well as social distancing measures for queueing and the closure of indoor showers.
As well as the Parliament Hill lido, there are three ponds on Hampstead Heath – one for men, one for women, and a mixed pond. They're among the most popular open-air swimming facilities in the capital, with tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Anne Fairweather, Chair of the Hampstead Heath Management Committee, said: “We know how important the Heath’s ponds and lido are to so many people, particularly our regular, loyal swimmers. That’s why we are keen to have this recovery plan in place to be able to open the swimming facilities again, as soon as we know it is safe to do so, in line with Government guidance on COVID-19."
Underlining the importance of pre-booked swimming times, she added: “The safety of our lifeguards and swimmers is paramount. These session times will be temporary measures only, but they are important to help alleviate safety concerns as much as possible. It will also relieve pressure on use of the toilets and changing areas as well as swimmers social distancing in and out of the water.”
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