How disappointing it was that a simple – breathtakingly simple – good time was had by all local story could not be covered without going through some truly amazing contortions to weave together the summer opening of the Parliament Hill Lido with the Gos

How disappointing it was that a simple - breathtakingly simple - 'good time was had by all' local story could not be covered without going through some truly amazing contortions to weave together the summer opening of the Parliament Hill Lido with the Gospel Oak recycling centre's rubbish and rat problem (Health fears as rats spotted at open air pool, H&H May 10). If there ever was an example of how to create a reality distorting news story, this will serve just fine.

Free from 9 to 10am on a drizzly Saturday morning, the Lido opened for the summer season with free yoga classes for children and adults, croissants, coffee, fruit and whatever swimmers brought in themselves, which included a specially made cake frosted to look like the Lido. Nothing spectacular happened. Not even a rat.

The writer clearly did not visit the pool area. Had she done so, she would not have found a rat in sight, nor been able to write that the rubbish bins in question were 'a few feet' away from the Lido.

There is a rubbish accumulation problem apparently at the recycling centre near the Gospel Oak railway bridge, and who would disagree that it should be dealt with. It has nothing to do with the Lido which is over 300 metres away. No one complained of seeing rats at the Lido - and no one we know has ever encountered one there. Pigeons, yes. They can be a pain. But rats?

Lido staff did put in a great deal of time and effort to steam clean, set up plants, shade areas, generally prettify the Lido, and they succeeded. The weather can never be held to account. It was not ideal. As grand openings go it was modest, but it was a lot of fun and generated good feeling.