<P> If the work goes ahead it is likely to involve the closure of all three swimming ponds for a prolonged period of time to enable higher dams to be built which will raise their heights, in the case of the dam above the Men's Swimming Pond by 18 feet . The City of London Corporation has said the work should be carried out urgently to reduce danger of flooding in surrounding built - up residential areas in the event of one of the dams bursting . The initial estimate of the number of lives which might be lost, in the event of a dam collapse in an extreme flood event, was over 2000 (2006 estimate). This figure has been reduced to less than 400, still a large number . However the chance of such an event is one in 400,000 years . At a public meeting to launch the Dam Nonsense Campaign held on 25 November 2013, more than 200 people voted in favour of the campaign with only one vote against . </P> <P> The regulated dams under the 1975 Reservoir Act are the Model Pond and the Men's Bathing Pond in the Highgate Chain . Highgate Number 1 pond would have been covered by the Act but the water level was lowered by the GLC in 1984 . In the Hampstead chain, Hampstead Number 1 pond is also regulated under the 1975 Act . </P> <P> The men and women's ponds are on the eastern side of the park, off of Millfield Lane . The mixed bathing pond is in the centre of the Heath, and is a 10 - 15 minute walk from Hampstead Heath railway station and from South End Green, at the junction of Pond Street and East Heath Road, which is served by several bus routes . </P> <P> Controversy broke out in December of 2017 after the City of London corporation, in charge of running the pools, officially announced that transgender women would be allowed to use the women's pool . Multiple swimmers including Julie Bindel criticised the rule change, although reaction was more positive from other groups . </P>

Where is the ladies pond on hampstead heath