AIBU to be upset about changes to women-only swimming ponds?

The laying of the the EHRC code of practice yesterday will massively help this case.

Yes, Sex Matters are on it:

Initially, the High Court refused to allow the judicial review brought by Sex Matters over the trans-inclusive policy at the Hampstead Heath bathing ponds. Mrs Justice Lieven ruled in January 2026 that the case should not proceed, mainly on procedural grounds, saying the claim was premature and that an individual claimant would be more appropriate.

However, in March 2026, the Court of Appeal overturned that refusal. Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing granted permission for judicial review, meaning the challenge is now allowed to go ahead to a full hearing.

Agree. I no longer live near, but I used to swim in the pond in the 90s, and it was so nice being surrounded by women of all ages. All shapes and sizes happily lounging in the sun after a swim. No worrying about lecherous men. I went to an all girls school and the pond made me realise how much I’d missed female only space, and how much more relaxing it is being around just women and girls when you are undressed or feel vulnerable. It was like being a child again, just free and easy.

The difference here is that if a biological woman identifying as a man chooses to swim with men, that is her choice, but the biological women wanting to swim without penises nearby are not being given that choice . And for those who say the local women are supportive, you are ignoring those who have up long ago because men were using their private spaces.

Exactly. A consultation doesn’t mean you can ignore the law.

So...chuck the man's clothes in the pond?
Or drown him?
No one will tell....

That's not true.

Not sure that is true. To make a point, some women went to the men’s pool and said they identified as men. They were chucked out. I think the police were even called.

Whereas men are indulged to the hilt and allowed free roam into the ostensibly women’s pool. I seem to remember someone saying even a chap sitting at the side of the women’s pool, with his testicles spilling out of his inadequate, bolleaux containing women’s swimsuit, wasn’t chucked out from the women’s pool. Maybe Keir Starmer would have identified these as lady boll&cks. The percentage of women he thinks have a penis must have testicles too.

Is that a no?

This is the sort of time when mass objection could make the owners uncomfortable enough to change things. Those living close need to get a large group of ladies who all turn up and go into the men's one at once - several times if necessary.
Then point out that it's unfair if the men have the choice of three pools, but no ladies only.

I suspect it will go to three mixed, but it could be worth a shot.

How are you going to stop a man using the man's pond?

The 'consultation' mentioned upthread was a total nonsense because the words 'sex' and 'gender' were used as if they mean the same thing.
So aside from the fact that an oddly large percentage of respondents claimed to be T - far larger than presence in the general population - the answers to the questions had to be nonsensical, looked at in the round, because the questions were nonsensical.
Bear in mind that surveys are only as good as the questions asked; statistics can be used to argue anything you want to argue; and that surveys are paid for and consultancy firms are a business.
City of London wanted a certain answer, namely that males should be allowed to use the female pond. City of London paid for the 'consultation'. The consultation was prepared by a business, which is hardly going to spend hours drafting biologically, legally and linguistically accurate questions when it is clear that that would lead to answers their client - and any other potential council/quango/nhs etc client - wouldn't want.

so there are 3 swimming ponds, a mixed sex one, a mens'pond......... And another mixed one.

Does the men’s pond exclude trans identified women?

I doubt it! , on certain sm platforms apparently they are all planning to ignore the guidelines and continue as before! 🤷‍♀️
women’s feelings are apparently wrong and not as relevant as trans peoples and are a sign we are all bigots!

It sounds unlawful. Will there be a judicial review or an appeal or anything?

So it will take another court case then? The guidelines are clear enough I thought to prevent this sort of discrimination. It is so blatant it is ridiculous. So what's next, or will the current status quo just be accepted and leave it to the menz now...

Rage is an understatement of how I feel about this and I don't even live anywhere near it!

I don't know how people can see this misogyny staring them in the face not be furious. It's baffling

This kind of horse shit is everywhere now. Look at M&S fitting rooms for example. Someone posted photos on here a while ago, I forget which store it was. One fitting room was labeled "men's". The other was labeled "try on" (or something similar) and could be used by anyone.

Will this change it so women get it back?

What, how do men get access to all three? And women nothing of their own

Fully agree! , many people, including myself and all the women ( and men ) I know or engage with don’t believe or agree with this at all!
the reason why we don’t say this out loud or in public is because of the immediate abuse and name calling it provokes!
it isn’t cowardice but a real worry , when people are being doxed , threatened with rape and violence, why would any sensible person want to expose themselves and their family to that?
the silent majority just voted quietly instead, however change will come as we teach our children to ignore these things and believe in the material truth.

I think there is the misconception that comes from only listening to people from within a narrow frame work. That is where you see these empty accusations of, none of you live there and you are the minority.

I wonder sometimes whether those repeating the line that it is only the minority of women who care about this actually understand the issues clearly or understand just how poll after poll is showing that it is the majority of the UK who want female single sex provisions and this is replicated in polling around the world.

It really must make some people feel good about themselves to diminish the needs of female people so much that they then rely of false statements that come across as platitudes to prop up their own misinformed views.

I work 10 minutes up the road and would love to use it, but don't because I wouldn't feel safe.

I took part in the ManFriday protest swims in the men's pond. Last time, the staff took two of the protesters' belongings and threw them in the bin, including car keys. I have no faith that if a man in the ladies pond was behaving in the way some PPs have experienced, the staff would do anything other than vilify the women who complained.

I use it and I don't want it to be mixed sex. It also means I can no longer attend with my religious friends. A Muslim friend and I used to go on occasion, but sadly she can no longer use it.

Another example of being inclusive and actually ending up being exclusive.

I'll come down & frighten him
off for you!

I thought all this had been resolved last summer?

im too far away to use them these days.