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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Personal trainer using local park to train clients inside actual playground near children

340 replies

lucindalovescats · 07/08/2020 11:25

I was dumbfounded this morning when I took my children to a big local playground in surrey to find a personal trainer teaching an adult man (who was obviously a client) using the play equipment.

She had large heavy metal dumb bells on the floor next to the swings and stretch equipment and a harness attached to the climbing frame.

It was 0830 am (took the kids early today as it's so hot) but there were already atleast 6-8 children playing with their parents so not empty.

I approached them and calmly said that the equipment was unsafe and was preventing the children from using the swings so could they please leave.

They didnt look embarrassed at all and said they were almost finished anyway.
After 15 minutes the man had left but the personal trainer was still there slowly pacing away equipment without a care in the world.
I must admit I lost my temper at this point and raised my voice to say it was completely illegal and unsafe for her to use the playground in this way and that I would be sending a photo of her to the local council. Not to mention it's a pandemic.

She was very brazen and told me I needed to calm down and take a muscle relaxant.

All the while no other parents said a word to back me up.
Why is that people dont say anything? That upset me as much as the situation did.

Or am I just an uptight cranky mum who needs to keep quiet?

OP posts:
RedskyAtnight · 07/08/2020 17:41

What kids are going to be out on their own at 8.30am?

cologne4711 · 07/08/2020 17:47

when in fact it’s the trainer and client who are the definition of entitled here, looking to hog public equipment for free

No, they both pay council tax.

I don't live in Surrey, but I have lived in quite a few different places, and people have respected children's playgrounds everywhere that I've lived Really? No dog owners letting their dogs run all over the place? No teens hanging around on the swings? Yeah right.

cologne4711 · 07/08/2020 17:49

Just that there is a general rule that children should be able to have access to playgrounds safely, without adults taking over, whether for training or grooming

But the OP never came back to clarify that it was a closed-in playground.

PiataMaiNei · 07/08/2020 17:51

@cologne4711

Just that there is a general rule that children should be able to have access to playgrounds safely, without adults taking over, whether for training or grooming

But the OP never came back to clarify that it was a closed-in playground.

Why would that matter? The PT and client were in the wrong whether the playground had a fence round it or not.
daisypond · 07/08/2020 17:55

I’ve looked up the rules of my council (inner London) on playgrounds:

“Children’s play areas
No person aged 14 years or over shall enter or remain to enter in a designated area which is a children's play area unless bona fide in charge of a child under the age of 14 years.

Children’s play apparatus
No person aged 14 years or over shall use any apparatus stated to be for the exclusive use of persons under the age of 14 years by a notice conspicuously displayed on or near the apparatus.“

Penalties are removal of the offender by a council official or Constable, and/or a fine.

sadpapercourtesan · 07/08/2020 18:01

Everyone involed in this scenario is an arsehole.

Gardeninghelp · 07/08/2020 18:05

No deletion message yet? Hmm

woollyheart · 07/08/2020 18:07

@cologne4711 It was fairly obvious to most of us that she was taking about a child's playground, not an open exercise area. Most UK children's playgrounds are closed in these days. That means it is possible to keep dogs out, so no, there aren't usually any dogs in them.

Yes, you sometimes get some teenagers hanging about in them, but nobody worries too much about that if there are no young children about at the time.

Of course it may be different where you live.

CosSam1 · 07/08/2020 18:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Goingdownto · 07/08/2020 18:22

CosSam have you wandered over from some site where misogynistic slurs are seen as acceptable?

lyralalala · 07/08/2020 18:24

@cologne4711

Just that there is a general rule that children should be able to have access to playgrounds safely, without adults taking over, whether for training or grooming

But the OP never came back to clarify that it was a closed-in playground.

Why does a fence matter matter?

They were using the swing and climbing frame = they were taking over an area designated for children

rosegoldivy · 07/08/2020 18:59

@unmarkedbythat jeeeezzzz. Tough crowd, though that one liner was pretty funny if am honest.
Maybe you too need a muscle relaxant?
Jokes. Obv. (Please don't fight me)

Whitepriv · 07/08/2020 19:01

@karenlovescats 😂

HarryHarry · 07/08/2020 19:02

I don’t think what they were doing is illegal and I wouldn’t have lost my temper over it but it would piss me off too. I hate when I see adults sitting on the play equipment so the children can’t use it. It’s so selfish and inconsiderate.

woollyheart · 07/08/2020 19:27

To those of you not in the UK, playgrounds in the UK are usually fenced off and there are rules to protect children. Usually the rules are no adults, except those looking after their children.

It is quite 'taboo' for adults to hang around the children's play area, and if you do, people will suspect you of being a paedophile. Most people are sensitive to this, and wouldn't go anywhere near. That is why the OP was surprised at the brazen way that this trainer was acting.

I would think the trainer's clients wouldn't be very comfortable either.

Nicknacky · 07/08/2020 19:38

woollyheart Why do you keep coming back to inferring there is a sexual, untoward element to this? The op never mentioned any concerns like that.

Unless it’s an elaborate ruse by the client to look at children and is using a PT as a cover?!😳

(I don’t actually think that, by the way)

ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress · 07/08/2020 19:40

Nope, Woolly. Please don't lump all British people in with your paedonoia.

Drumple · 07/08/2020 19:54

No signs like that on the park near me.

ghostyslovesheets · 07/08/2020 20:05

meh I've used the kids bit for sections of a work out - maybe people like Woolly think every adult in the park is a paedophile but most sane people do not - and out park has no signs about adults using it - also just so you know the fences and gates are to keep the kids IN not the adults out!

CatandtheFiddle · 07/08/2020 20:06

Woollyheart clearly the man & his trainer were using some of the facilities of the playground, such as a pull-up bar, not touting to convert small children to the dark side. They were there early - probably 7am or 7:30am if the OP is accurate - they were just finishing up at 8:30am.

So give it a rest.

LadyPenelope68 · 07/08/2020 20:07

Public space, she’s totally within her rights to be there doing that. What law has she actually broken? She probably thought (quite rightly) that you were bonkers, as did the other parents probably.

doadeer · 07/08/2020 20:08

I don't think this would anger me. If they were in the way of equipment I wanted to use with my son I would ask how long they will be, and explain my son wanted to use the swing.

Not sure I would get stressed

PiataMaiNei · 07/08/2020 20:15

@LadyPenelope68

Public space, she’s totally within her rights to be there doing that. What law has she actually broken? She probably thought (quite rightly) that you were bonkers, as did the other parents probably.
You really can't say she's totally within her rights without an idea of the relevant byelaws. Also it's one thing to be physically present, another to be using the space for private business which involved adding extra equipment to the place.

Honestly though, the more I think about it, the more I reckon the best way to deal with this kind of thing is probably making the place really undesirable as a location for a PT session. So don't prevent your kids from going and examining the harnesses, obviously can't let them pick up the weights but they can always touch. Film away too, to make sure the PT and client are on their best behaviour while this is happening. If someone thinks they're entitled to use a public space in that way, the consequence of that choice is that they get to deal with the public: in this case, children.

Barbie222 · 07/08/2020 20:17

Or am I just an uptight cranky mum who needs to keep quiet?

Er, yes. The playground is a public space. They chose a time when children aren't likely to be there. I'd have looked Hmmat your outburst I'm afraid.

Miljea · 07/08/2020 20:27

Look, everyone. You can now filter to see the OP's posts, only.

Surely you check to see if they'd checked back in before wasting your time posting; like I am. 😂

She OP'ed- then 300 posts later- gone.

Walk away.