Londoners May Soon Have New Wild Swimming Pools for The First Time In 250 years

The capital is all set to enjoy the facility of wild swimming pools to be constructed in nearly 250 years at the London Thames Water facility. The brownfield commercial storage site covered with concrete in the east London property is currently Thames Water depot. It will be transformed into London's first brand new swimming pond since the 1777 Hampstead Ponds.

The Thames Water Depot is located at the edge of Waltham Forest and Hackney. Currently, the Department for Education's arm's-length property firm, Located, is in charge of managing it on behalf of the Secretary of State for Leveling Up, Housing, and Communities.

The two swimming pools in the East London Waterworks Park, with sixteen hundred square meters and fourteen hundred square 

meters of area respectively, would be powered by solar and hydroelectricity and could accommodate 1,000 people each day. It is planned to maintain the rainwater ponds with reeds and aquatic plants, as well as areas for arts and scientific research, sustainably.

People have a true desire to do swimming in open water/pools in order to re-establish a connection with nature. Still, there isn't currently enough capacity to satisfy that need, according to Abigail Woodman, chairman of East London Waterworks Park (ELWP) and employee of an educational publishing company. Woodman added that because of how gloomy the current situation can feel for the community, this is about embodying optimism.

Earlier the government wanted to construct two free schools in the area that they bought from Thames Water. However, after the plan didn't work out, the community came up with the idea of creating wild ponds there. The volunteers are of the opinion that the only future for the area is as a park, owned by the community for the community, with the filter beds—which formerly provided pure drinking water to London—serving the public government. 

In order to reduce waste, the facility will use goods for reuse, repair, and recycling. Additionally, it will create its own renewable energy by harnessing the river's hydropower and sun energy.

Initiatives Taken

A brownfield rainforest will be created on the government-owned 5.68-hectare site on the polluted River Lea if locals purchase it and transform it into two public swimming pools, a community area, an anaerobic digester, a cafe, and a repair hub. To buy the plot, they intend to raise £500,000. The project has already attracted more than 1,800 supporters and has reached 40% of its fundraising goal. 

In order for the project to move on to the next phase, the goal is to raise £500,000 by October 28. It is anticipated that the volunteers will be able to use the pools in 2027 whereas  the general public can enjoy the pool facility in 2029, assuming the purchase is approved and the necessary planning permissions are obtained.

If completed, it would be the first set of community-owned natural swimming ponds in the city.

Ms Abigail Woodman, who is also one of the plan's volunteers, wants this concrete-covered depot to contribute to the neighbourhood's health and well-being. She is certain that they will be able to raise more funds. She ensures that the site can be supported by its users so that it is accessible to everyone. According to Woodman, the project intends to collaborate with youth to develop a peer-focused water safety campaign. 

A large number of people have been swimming in Highgate Men's Bathing Pond, the Mixed Bathing Pond, and Kenwood Ladies' Bathing Pond, each of which regularly draws more than 1,500 swimmers per day, according to William Upton, chair of the City of London Corporation's Hampstead Heath management committee. The ponds were initially built as reservoirs in the 17th and 18th centuries, and some were later turned into swimming pools.

Most people do not relate to swimming, according to Ed Accura,the Black Swimming Association's (BSA) co-founder and creator of the Blacks Can't Swim documentary. Despite this, he believes the project will benefit the community. Over a hundred people have already taken part in the BSA's program on water orientation and familiarisation held in Hackney, and the program will soon be available all across the country, the speaker added, calling for education on water safety to be a primary priority.

Government support

Shirley Rodrigues, London's environment and energy deputy mayor has endorsed the plan and called it a great instance of a community effort. She claimed that mayor Sadiq Khan is motivated to bring Londoners closer to nature and renovate the city by conserving, restoring, and upgrading its land and water bodies. It is critical that initiatives like this improve the neighbourhood and that, by establishing additional grounds and open spaces, the government is assisting the development of a green and better London for all.

However, Waltham Forest council and the Department for Education, who is reportedly in charge of the site's sale, both stated that commenting on the proposals at this time is not possible.

Thames Water stated during a July meeting in East London Waterworks Park that it is eager to support any stakeholder organisations or groups who wish to create wild swimming places.

Final Thoughts

The demand for wild swimming has increased even more after initially picking up during the coronavirus epidemic, despite record temperatures and drought. However, there are few possibilities due to access fees, capacity restrictions in a small number of designated places, notably in cities, and pollution warnings.

The opening of these natural ponds will provide the locals with some reprieve from the scorching heat. The citizens will be able to use these places for free, as well. A vital component of the initiative is making the facility free to use, given Waltham Forest has a child poverty rate of more than 42%.

According to volunteers, the plot would offer habitats for rare butterflies, invertebrates, bats, and birds, if it is successful, making it the largest community rewilding plot purchased from the government. In addition, they are confident that the initiative will positively impact health and wellness, the environment, learning, and the economy of the community.