Mayor's threat to take over heath's pools

Ken Livingstone today threatened to seize control of Hampstead Heath from the City of London in a bid to keep its pools free for the public - and save its newts.

A City Hall insider revealed that Mr Livingstone, who is a famous newt-lover, was particularly keen to keep the ponds open to protect its " amphibious life".

The Mayor stepped into the growing row over plans by the Corporation of London to either close or impose entry charges on the heath's famous swimming ponds.

The Corporation is set to take the drastic action in the wake of budget cuts, but Mr Livingstonehas warned that he would rather launch a GLC-style takeover of the 800-acre site.

The heath - one of the capital's largest open spaces - has been publicly owned for more than 100 years. The Greater London Council managed it until its abolition in

1985. Camden Council took over but could not cope with the financial cost of its upkeep and transferred it to the City in 1989.

The heath's running costs are about ?6 million a year, but Mr Livingstone stunned the

Corporation today by writing to Michael Synder, the chairman of its governing policy and resources committee, with his warning.

Mr Livingstone said: "If the Corporation seriously cannot find the resources to fulfil their duty to maintain these facilities on Hampstead Heath, I would be happy for them to be transferred back to London government." There are three natural swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath: the men's pond, the Kenwood ladies' pond and the mixed pond. More than 200,000 people swim there every year.

A spokesman for the Corporation today said there was no question of any other body running the heath. "We have looked after it for 15 years, put in ?50million of our own City money and expect to be looking after Hampstead Heath for at least 150 years, if not 1,500," he said.

Brian Coleman, Tory chairman of the London Assembly, said: "This is a blatant and unseemly power-grab. He should keep his grubby paws off. Ken Livingstone will do anything to increase his empire. If it is Hampstead Heath this week, it'll be the royal parks next week."