Afternoon:
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Stand-off at the Serpentine: swimmers defy lido closure
Kirsty Whalley and Rob Parsons3 Oct 2011
Swimmers staged an angry stand-off with police after being shut out of the Serpentine's outdoor pool during a weekend of record high temperatures.
Tempers flared when managers of the lido in Hyde Park ruled it would not be re-opened to the public yesterday. Its season ended on September 12.
Hundreds ignored the locked gates and jumped the fence before park staff called the police, who ordered them out.
Pictures: Indian summer ... the heatwave continues
Visitors hit out at the decision to bar them from the lido on a day where outdoor pools across the capital were filled with swimmers. Temperatures hit 29C in the capital, a record for October, and Londoners are set for more hot weather today - though it will become "significantly cooler" as the week goes on, hitting 21C tomorrow.
Rob Ellen, a teacher, and friend Lyndon Harrison, a chef, both 25, only managed a brief swim in the Serpentine before they were ordered out.
Mr Ellen said: "This is in the centre of London, people should be allowed to swim in the Serpentine if they choose. The police were actually quite understanding but said we couldn't swim there because it was closed.
"There were about 50 people swimming here, families and people of all ages, everyone was enjoying themselves."
It costs £4 per adult to use the lido and £1 for children under 15 and there is a lifeguard on duty.
One swimmer, who has been visiting the lido for 40 years, said: "I spent yesterday and today swimming here. I would say there have been about 500 people here throughout the day.
"The police have been here on both days, there were six officers here yesterday. They told us all to leave. So we all left the area and then just jumped the fence again when they had gone.
"This is a facility for the public, we should be allowed to use it. There was obviously no lifeguard on duty, but I wasn't too worried about that.
"There were families here with young children, it is a miracle no one was hurt, with people jumping over the fence."
Pictures: Indian summer ... the heatwave continues
Reader views (9)
No one belives me.
May be because you are such an idiot, Hyde Park is a royal park opened free all the year round as are all Royal Parks, no land lords or corporations involved, Swiming pool has open & closing dates published every year
- peter, London, 03/10/2011 14:39
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Six police turn up rapidly! Pity they cannot do that for real crimes.
As for the season ending - what an attitude. Just like hotels "afternoon finished at 4.30 pm" .
Why did not someone exercise some initiative and re-open?
- M E Corby, London UK, 03/10/2011 14:39
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@No One Believes Me But It's True:
Don't be such an idiot; the Serpentine is located in one of the Royal Parks that form part of the Crown Estate.
The facilities are open round the year subject to annual staffing and seasonal considerations just as Ruth from Hampton says.
Disappointed swimmers can always trek to Hampstead Heath where a number of ponds are open all year long.
- Diana Johnson, London, UK, 03/10/2011 14:36
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We should just take back the land that's been stolen from the people. The land is there for all, not for private owners or corporations. It's shameful for the police to be protecting the interests of greedy landlords and absentee owners. Swim and damn them all!
- No One Believes Me But It's True, London UK, 03/10/2011 13:43
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This has nothing whatever to do with jobsworths. I often swim at the Serpentine and it has defined, published summer opening times and employs seasonal staff during those periods only. Therefore, there would have been no staff on duty and no lifeguards to supervise and assist if necessary. It's also unheated, unlike most outdoor pools, and is definitely not for weak swimmers. I can imagine the outcry if someone or their little darling were to get into difficulties and there was no one on hand to help. The freak weather is not an excuse for people to behave like savages.
- Ruth, Hampton, 03/10/2011 13:01
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Don't ever argue with a man in budgie smugglers!
- Hansel, London, 03/10/2011 12:38
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It is interesting that the police were able to muster 6 officers so quickly in this case but could not find even one when someones house was broken into and vandalised
- Patrick, Dalston, 03/10/2011 11:30
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Scandalous rate to pay just for a swim , I wonder which narrow minded twit made that decision.?
- Davey_Buoy, Chertsey, 03/10/2011 11:16
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More "Jobsworths" in action. This country is crippled by small-minded people and petty officialdom. What are the managers of this public facility actually saying; that they close the pool IRRESPECTIVE of the weather, irrespective of the demand!? If that's the case, its a wonder they open at all... it'd be much easier not to bother!
- Crazy Hippie, 10 Drowning Street SW1, 03/10/2011 11:00
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