The City of London’s proposed dam works on Hampstead Heath will:
• Permanently disfigure the Heath
• Not eliminate the risk of downstream flooding or loss of life which the City of London claims these proposals will address
We call on Camden Council to reject the City of London’s Planning Application.
The proposed works specify massive dams, spillways, concrete walls and embankments. They include:
• Construction of a huge 40m wide by 5.6m high embankment in the Catchpit Valley;
• Construction of a massive 2.5 m dam at end of the Model Boating Pond;
• Felling at least 160 trees;
• Taking 2 years to complete;
• Estimated costs of at least £17 million;
• Inevitable and irreversible damage to the Heath and its wildlife.
The City’s rationale for these works involves a dubious interpretation of the law. It refers to a computer model of a 1 in 400,000 year “probable maximum flood” and works that would “virtually eliminate” the risk of dam collapse in the event of this flood. The works would contravene the Hampstead Heath Act of 1871 which requires that Hampstead Heath be preserved in its “natural aspect and state”.
The City became custodian of the Heath in 1989. It is now making a planning application to Camden Council to carry out the proposed works. You can also help in other ways:
• Details of the planning application and your opportunity to object directly to Camden Council can be found on the council's website.
• Donations can be made towards legal costs by the Heath & Hampstead Society (a charity) to apply for a judicial review via their website..
• Details of the DamNonsense campaign and alternative proposals to the works can be found at
http://www.damnonsense.org.uk/.
Please sign this petition and forward the details to your friends, family, colleagues, colleges, trade unions, faith groups and anyone else you can think of!
Supported by:
DamNonsense
Hampstead Heath Winter Swimming Club
Highgate Men’s Pond Association
Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association
Mixed Pond Association
Protect Our Ponds
The Hampstead Heath Anglers’ Society
The Heath & Hampstead Society
United Swimmers’ Association of Hampstead Heath
