Swimming pool toilets

[Werehalfwaythere]

Just sense checking whether this is an issue or not in most people’s minds and it kind of is for me, but I don’t want to make a fuss for nothing.

The local leisure centre is having renovation works to its changing rooms which has halved the space and left only one toilet available - marked for females. Toilets are small with hardly any space to stand unless in a cubicle. The changing rooms are manic, especially after swimming lessons.

The renovations have been going on for a few months now and I’ve noticed each week after my kids lessons that the male cleaner enters the female toilets very regularly. I was waiting outside the cubicle my son was in and observed the male cleaner going in there 3 times in 5mins. Now, I’m not trying to suggest it’s illegitimate reasons as I’m sure the toilets get horrid very quickly with so many people using them and probably very slippery too.

The reasons I feel uncomfortable;

1. it’s so tiny that young girls often go in alone, hardly any space to stand outside the cubicles.
2. there’s no signage to say a male is in there at anytime. I wouldn’t know if he was in there if I sent my daughter in for example.
3. it’s not a unisex toilet - it’s clearly marked for females only.
4. As it’s a swimming pool changing room, everyone is in the equivalent of underwear and very exposed. For the average person it means nothing, but a solo man around young girls in costumes alone makes me feel uncomfortable.

AIBU to feel uncomfortable about this and that it’s an unnecessary safeguarding risk? The leisure centre is a big one, why wouldn’t they assign a female cleaner whilst the work is undergoing and the changing rooms are chaos?

Perhaps I’m being over sensitive about it so I’d value your thoughts!

but from what OP has said there isn't a "single sex changing room." It's a mixed changing room with a single sex toilet within it. Therefore a cleaner of either sex would still have to access the room where people of both sexes are changing to get to the toilet.

I'm surprised people seem to think it's do-able for every public building to have a cleaner of each sex available at all times! Have you never been out and about in the world and seen the 'cleaner of either sex may be present' signs in changing rooms, service stations, gyms...? It's very normal for men to clean women's toilets and vice versa.

Perhaps the leisure centre should be putting up a sign or advising the cleaner to knock and announce his presence before going into the toilets (which is what they do in my gym changing rooms) and fair enough if OP wants to suggest that. But there is no law or guidance suggesting he shouldn't be allowed to clean them at all.

@Screamingabdabz thanks for your support, I’m going to raise the concern. If nothing else, it may make them look at their policies to confirm all is appropriate.

I think some people genuinely just never have exposure to safeguarding theory and an understanding of how rife abuse is. It’s an ignorance rather than intentional gaslighting - I hope at least!

You know what they say, 'A little bit of training makes everyone an expert'.

My point is, many mothers don't want boys in the girls toilets, especially once they're over the age of about 7 or 8 maximum, because they are the GIRLS toilets.

If you don't understand that, I can't help you.

Likewise. You’re coming across very unpleasant.

And you're coming across as a wee bit hypocritical.

I wish there was a cleaner regularly checking the toilets at my local leisure centre. They are minging.

In my leisure centre boys over 7 aren't allowed in the female facilities. The female toilets are located within the female changing room.

If you're concerned about this male cleaner's duties you'll have to raise it with the premises manager.

@Werehalfwaythere is this the only time you've seen him exhibit this behaviour? If it is I think your reaching quite a bit and to complain about him would be quite unpleasant.

You’re not overreacting—your concerns are valid. A male cleaner in small female toilets, especially with children present, is a legitimate safeguarding risk. It would be reasonable to ask the leisure centre to have female staff clean these areas during busy times or to schedule cleaning when the toilets are empty. Your feelings are about safety and privacy, not being oversensitive.

Op are you sure he wasn't trying to get in to clean the cubicle and kept coming back to see when it was empty?

It sounds like your making a mountain out of a mole hill. The chances are their is one cleaner on shift whos doing both sets of toilets.

That is a managment question.

If he is having problems sticking up a closed for cleaning sign is an option.