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Original poster

Consultation on future access to the Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds - Closes 25 November 2025

139 replies

IwantToRetire · 30/09/2025 18:57

The City of London Corporation has launched a public consultation to help inform future access arrangements at Hampstead Heath’s Bathing Ponds.

The consultation invites feedback from pond users, the local community, and stakeholders on how the Kenwood Ladies’, and Highgate Men’s ponds should operate in the future.

The consultation is open until 12:00 on Tuesday 25 November 2025.

https://hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds.commonplace.is/

Opened today and I found out via an Irish newspaper!

I know there is an existing thread about legal challenge but thought it good to have the news of the consultation being open as a thread title.

Future access to the Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds

Inviting feedback from pond users, the local community, and stakeholders on how the Kenwood Ladies’, and Highgate Men’s ponds should operate in the future.

https://hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds.commonplace.is

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12
FortheloveofPetethePlumber · 30/09/2025 20:00

I don't see the point of participation in a consultation as the last one was more bent than spaghetti junction. The questions will be spun and biased to get the predetermined male dominance answers, it will be brigaded by TRAs who will not have to find it advertised in an Irish newspaper hidden in an unused toilet behind a sign saying 'beward of the leopard', and all the unwanted answers that say anything terrible such as 'women have access needs and rights too' will be binned.

The court case will take place in reality as opposed to Lala Land, this is probably some attempt to demonstrate how there's no women actually wanting rights in this survey they carefully fiddled.

Bannedontherun · 30/09/2025 19:53

IwantToRetire · 30/09/2025 19:32

I suspect, given what has happened in the past, that they will get (or manage to discredet enough responses that dont fit) an overwhelming support for trans inclusion.

And then somehow argue that they are providing a service that the public wants.

To then set a precedent that when a popular vote demands it, organisation can be exempt from the Supreme Court ruling.

You may think I am joking.

But I am not. There has been so much resistance and the activists who are embedded in places like this Corporation, will use this position to continue to undermine women's rights.

@IwantToRetire “ to then set a precedent that when a popular vote demands it ,organisation can be exempt from the Supreme Court ruling”

i do not no how else i can interpret that statement.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 30/09/2025 19:53

IwantToRetire · 30/09/2025 19:32

I suspect, given what has happened in the past, that they will get (or manage to discredet enough responses that dont fit) an overwhelming support for trans inclusion.

And then somehow argue that they are providing a service that the public wants.

To then set a precedent that when a popular vote demands it, organisation can be exempt from the Supreme Court ruling.

You may think I am joking.

But I am not. There has been so much resistance and the activists who are embedded in places like this Corporation, will use this position to continue to undermine women's rights.

It doesn't matter how many trans identifying men and handmaidens write in saying they support trans inclusion, or how many bigoted women's responses they put in the bin.

It's not Strictly Come Dancing, the public doesn't get to vote.

They just have to obey the law. It's that simple.

SirEctor · 30/09/2025 19:51

But thanks for highlighting it, OP. Hopefully London Mumsnetters will respond and not have their input discounted for spurious reasons this time.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 30/09/2025 19:48

Bannedontherun · 30/09/2025 19:41

@IwantToRetire I understand your pessimism but you are simply incorrect.

A court cannot and would not rule that a positive public consultation, will override the rule of law. Only Parliament can change the law by virtue of legislation.

so your suggestion that this could happen is silly.

Did I say that?

Seriously please re-read.

OP posts:
SirEctor · 30/09/2025 19:48

It doesn't matter if people think you should break the law, you'd still be breaking the law. Confused

Bannedontherun · 30/09/2025 19:41

@IwantToRetire I understand your pessimism but you are simply incorrect.

A court cannot and would not rule that a positive public consultation, will override the rule of law. Only Parliament can change the law by virtue of legislation.

so your suggestion that this could happen is silly.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 30/09/2025 19:32

I suspect, given what has happened in the past, that they will get (or manage to discredet enough responses that dont fit) an overwhelming support for trans inclusion.

And then somehow argue that they are providing a service that the public wants.

To then set a precedent that when a popular vote demands it, organisation can be exempt from the Supreme Court ruling.

You may think I am joking.

But I am not. There has been so much resistance and the activists who are embedded in places like this Corporation, will use this position to continue to undermine women's rights.

OP posts:
Bannedontherun · 30/09/2025 19:21

Well that is jolly (bloody) funny really. Sev Matters have already issued proceedings against them, so presumably this is a line of defence.

The first line of defence was that the EQA did not apply as they were not providing single sex services ??? Or something like that.

what a bunch of idiots, who the hell is giving them legal advice?

MrsOvertonsWindow · 30/09/2025 19:12

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 30/09/2025 19:10

Why do they think they need to have a consultation about whether to obey the law or not?

Sacred caste innit? Special rules reserved for those believing they're exempt from the laws of the land, the social contract and the requirement to respect the rights of others.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 30/09/2025 19:10

Why do they think they need to have a consultation about whether to obey the law or not?

DrBlackbird · 30/09/2025 19:09

Trans-inclusive. Nice use of specious language there.

TwoLoonsAndASprout · 30/09/2025 19:07

That’s an interesting press release - I was under the impression that the men’s pond specifically didn’t admit trans men (ie trans identifying women). Can anyone confirm?

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 30/09/2025 19:05

Have now found the official press release:

Currently, the Men’s Pond admits biological men and trans men, and the Ladies’ Pond admits biological women and trans women, with the protected characteristics of gender reassignment under the Equality Act 2010.

These arrangements have been in place for many years, consistent with the City Corporation’s Gender Identity Policy – adopted in 2019 following a public consultation – and previous versions of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Statutory Code of Practice.

Both the City Corporation’s Gender Identity Policy and past EHRC guidance have since been withdrawn following the UK Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland (April 2025) on the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.

Like many organisations, the City Corporation – which manages Hampstead Heath as a registered charity – is now reviewing its access rules to ensure they remain fair, lawful and respectful, in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling and evolving EHRC guidance.

The consultation will support that review and ask for views on whether the Ladies’ Pond and the Men’s Pond should continue to operate as trans-inclusive or exclusively single-sex spaces, or as mixed-sex spaces. The City Corporation is also asking for feedback on whether communal toilets and changing rooms should be trans-inclusive, and whether there should be specific times reserved for biological single-sex use. [Please see notes to editors for the full list of options being put forward for consideration].

The findings will not determine the future policy on their own but will help inform decisions made by Members of the City Corporation’s committees, alongside several other key factors, including legal duties, equality impacts, safeguarding, and practical enforcement considerations.

The current admission rules will remain in place until the consultation concludes and decisions regarding future access have been finalised by the relevant City Corporation committees.

Extract only https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/city-of-london-corporation-launches-public-consultation-on-hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds/

City of London Corporation Launches Public Consultation on Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds

Consultation to run from 30 September to 25 November 2025City Corporation seeks views on future access arrangements for the Ladies’, Men’s and Mixed PondsResponses will help inform decisions by Members of the City Corporation’s committeesThe City of Lo...

https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/city-of-london-corporation-launches-public-consultation-on-hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds

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