Why we bother.
Written by A.D.Libitum   
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Thank you very much for inviting me to the Heath and Hampstead Society new members reception. Many apologies for being unable to email you sooner.
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Heath for Nudes
Written by A.D. Libitum   
Saturday, 30 January 2010
 ‘The whole Heath should be made a nudist zone’ said a spokesman for the recently formed ’Heath for Nudes’ group at a packed meeting on the fringes of the Heath.  ‘Recent proposals to turn the changing rooms at the Men’s Pond into nude bathing areas don’t go anywhere near far enough,’ he added. ‘After all, we’re all naked under our clothes.’
Calling the petition presented to the Heath Management Committee last  year the work of unprincipled splitists, the ‘Heath for Nudes’ group has drawn up a bi-monthly plan of direct action.
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Hunting Snipe on the Heath
Written by A.D.Libitum   
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Sounds like what one might do when bored of hunting jabberwock, but actually it’s what I found myself doing on West Heath early last Sunday morning.
First light, cold and damp, the boys who make West Heath their nightly playground for naughtiness had gone home, and the dog lovers and jog lovers, were still in bed dreaming of bones and firmer flesh.
My companions and I had the Heath to ourselves.
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The Heath and Hampstead Society strives to preserve the wild and natural state of the Heath,
 
In the news
Ham & High The Chairman speaks out against the dangers of deep basement excavations in Hampstead.
 
Threat to demolish Athlone House

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Athlone house in Highgate, a fine Victorian Mansion visible from  many parts of the Heath is in immediate danger of demolition. Its proposed replacement is a new mansion more than twice as big, intrusive in size, scale, colour and detail.

Planning permission was granted for the construction of new flats in the grounds of Athlone House in 2005. A planning condition required the developer to restore Athlone House within three and a half years; this was accepted.

The flats have been completed, the developer has sold all but two of them and Athlone House has NOT been restored but re-sold.  Now the new owner has put in a planning application to demolish the house and replace it with a conspicuous mansion of much greater area. Intrusive in design, its white stone will contrast sharply with the green background of trees.  The character of, and views from, the Heath would be irreversibly spoilt.
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FIghting developers above and below ground

 
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Photo:J Pedigo
Fighting central government-backed plans to simplify life for developers.

We're working with Camden to protect the Hampstead Conservation Area, Metropolitan Open Land, and the fringes of the Heath from building development that will inevitably follow the government's proposed loosening of the planning laws.

Bamboozling Camden

We will not stand by and allow Camden to be bamboozled by underground stability reports prepared for developers by well-known engineering companies enabling the excavation of excessively deep basements, and so we have appointed our own independent, expert hydrologist.

Landmark Victories

Strong and effective community lobbies have had great success this summer saving Hampstead Police Station and stopping a planned O2 mast at the top of Fitzjohn’s Avenue in radiation range of a cluster of infant schools.
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