Future of Hampstead Heath

The City of London has published a report on its consultation on how it should care for Hampstead Heath.

Around 2,000 responses were received in one form or another - which is a reasonably high figure by the standards of most public consultations and a measure of the value of the heath to local people. That said, while the responses were predominantly from people living in the postcode areas around the heath, no figure is reported for respondents from NW6 so perhaps we don't value the heath as much as our neighbours in Swiss Cottage or Golders Green

Not many surprises in the findings. People want to protect the heath from further development. But there are conflicts of view between different kinds of users - e.g. pedestrians and cyclists.

The City of London says it "will now examine people’s comments in detail, before making suggested changes to the draft management plan."

Progress can be followed on the Hampstead page at the City of London's website.

Future of Hampstead Heath

Parliament Hill
Originally uploaded by Grievous Angel.

The Corporation of London is consulting on the future of Hampstead Heath. It has issued a draft management plan and is seeking your views.

Find out more and submit your views online at the consultation webpage. You have until 20th May.

Ice skating on Hampstead Heath

A little off our patch, but I was struck by this report - on the go-ahead for an ice-rink on Parliament Hill next month.

The rink - operated by a company called PWR - will be open from 10am to 10pm from 3rd December to 15th January.

But what about this?

After complaints from neighbours about music, PWR promised to play only Christmas classics such as Slade's Merry Xmas (Everyone).

Well, that must be reassuring for the neighbours.

Another thing to like about West Hampstead: we don't have to live with wall-to-wall Slade and Paul McCartney at Christmas. We must count our blessings.