Conclusive news of the Impending Crash

[liadnan]

I suppose it's an intensely parochial issue, limited in interest to any but the handful of you who live in or have some connection with Hampstead, Highgate, or Camden Town, that the Hampstead Ponds may be closing. But I think it goes beyond the loss we're facing: if the Corporation of London* can't find a measly £200,000 in its petty cash drawer then the economy of this country is in deep, deep shit.

Heard from a politician on Radio 4 this morning: "a quicker and faster response" (by the police). Quicker and faster, my word.

And some of those in favour of a law to ban incitement to religious hatred are arguing that it should, for instance, be useable against another Salman Rushdie. Which makes me fairly fundamentally opposed.

*note for those who don't know about the insane complexities of London government, the Corporation is the local authority for the City of London -the Square Mile, not the metropolis of Greater London-, is the richest local authority in the country, dates its privileges back to before the conquest (you'll occasionally find the rather dubious claim that it wasn't conquered by William, it made a peace treaty with him) and tends to manage to get into any statute dealing with land law or local authority powers some clause along the lines of "but not in the City of London". Which is why it's the only feudal tenant-in-chief left where that status actually has some meaning, I think.

Comments

[tabouli.livejournal.com]

Ahh, a new icon, I see! Very pretty. Same place at sunset?

[liadnan]

Well done. I felt in a sunset kind of mood.

[ninebelow.livejournal.com]

The (poorly written) article only says the Kenwood Ladies pool is threatened. Everyone will still be able to swim in the normal ponds. Not that I'm in favour of its closure but it's hardly the Hampstead Ponds.

[liadnan]

"is threatening to close it down, together with the men's and the mixed ponds."

[ninebelow.livejournal.com]

Pah.

[liadnan]

See also
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/media_centre/Hampstead+Heath+swimming+ponds.htm
and
http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=4602

[eccles.livejournal.com]

"a quicker and faster response" (by the police).

I have images of a policeman running down the street and a teacher shouting after him "Don't run Jones, more haste less speed" whereupon the policeman breaks into a quick walk trying not to run gait.

[badgerolove.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've been hearing rumours of that for a while. Would be a real shame...but the good ol' Ham & High have got a 'save our ponds' peition going on.

[liadnan]

I suspect that the idea of SuperKen stepping in to save th day will irritate the Corp. so much they'll find the cash,.

[liadnan]

Looks like somethings made the Corpn of London sit uup and take notice...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1373318,00.html