Sad news has emerged this week that Hampstead’s swimming ponds are to be closed for essential work. The reason being is an issue with the dams that create the ponds. According to the Ham&High, if the dams were to burst, which could happen to excess rainfall, then areas such as Gospel Oak, Kentish Town and Darmouth Park would be under threat from severe flooding. The risk is low, but were it to happen, the consequences would be disastrous.

    Sadly, the aesthetic of the ponds will be affected by the work, but Michael Welbank, chairman of the City of London Heath management committee has assured that after ten years, it will be as if nothing had happened (other than of course the fact that the ponds will no longer be in danger of flooding!)

    It has not been confirmed yet whether the swimming ponds will definitely close or not, but with work happening on them, I’m sure we can expect closure for at least a short time. Here’s hoping that it’s during the winter…

    The work is said to take two or three years, however the work is unlikely to start before 2013, which gives us at least another two summers to enjoy the ponds! Let’s just hope for some sunshine this year!