CCTV of swimming pool playing in cafe

[Imdunfer]

Looking for advice on whether it would be rational to make a formal complaint about this.

The gym I use has just started playing the live CCTV feed of the swimming pool area into the cafe.

I'm very unhappy about being watched in my swimming costume by people I can't see watching me, but also there are children's swimming lessons going on in the pool as well and that feels like a safeguarding issue.

I've talked to the guy manning the desk and he brushed it off.

UABU - you are being unreasonable, there's nothing wrong with people you can't see being able to watch you and little children in wet swimming costumes.

UANBU - make a formal complaint

I really couldn't get worked up about that. Nobody cares about you in your swimming costume and children out and about might occasionally be seen by a paedophile.
This is a non-issue.

I’m torn…ours has a huge viewing area, so anyone could be watching. Does yours not have this viewing area? Is it a compromise as parents aren’t allowed to watch the swimming lessons poolside?

*Stadium style pool seating so people get their drink from the cafe and sit and watch.

For me this is about being watched by people I can't see watching me. The cafe is a small dark enclosed area, it doesn't open onto the pool.

Is there seating poolside? I’m wondering if this is a compromise for parents who aren’t allowed to watch the lessons in person?

No, the cafe is a small dark room without a gallery onto the pool or into the gym. There's no serving counter, people buy drinks from reception and then go and sit out of sight.

It does sound a bit grim…

What is the purpose of the CCTV footage? Is it so that parents can watch their children's swimming lessons from the cafe?

Can anyone enter the cafe off the street?

Depending on the answer to these questions and if it's just the pool area rather than the changing rooms or showering area I wouldn't be bothered by this.

Parents can and do watch lessons in person, though there isn't anywhere nice for them to do that, admittedly, they just have to stand by the pool or sit on the surround of the jacuzzi (plenty of space for that).

I guess that's probably why they've done it.

I think you're over reacting.

The cafe is only accessible to gym members. There are plenty of guys in the gym that I don't want looking at me in a wet swimming costume without me being able to see them looking.

Totally unnecessary and I’d be very surprised if this would be seen favourably from a safeguarding perspective. Why do people sitting in the cafe need visual access of swimmers?

YANBU to complain and choose a different gym if they don’t listen.

So its for parents to watch swim lesson?

if You don’t like it you don’t like it but it’s no different than a window
ether put up with it or move gym

my gym has big screen of the pool behind reception everyone queuing can see it’s not unusual

I don't know. It suddenly happened with no consultation. There are very few hours of swimming lessons in the week, the CCTV is full time.

It is different from a window. With a window I can see who is watching me. I can't see who is looking at the TV.

I guess though even if you can see who is watching you don’t know they are any safer than someone watching via the CCTV.

unfortunatly risk is everywhere and so are people without good intention.

You need to decide if this is a deal breaker for you and vote with your feet if it’s.

I’m with you OP. I’d hate this. I’m also not confident in my swim suit and this would put me off quite a lot. Hardly anyone ever sits in the poolside viewing area when I go swimming. I’d definitely be uncomfortable with the pool being viewed from elsewhere.

Why though? People can see you in a swimming costume in pools or at the beach. What difference does it make whether you can see them? I think you need to process in your mind why this is a problem.

Id assume it's for parents to watch the lessons too, although it's odd that it's on all the time if there aren't many lessons.

It's not a deal breaker because it's the only gym in the area with a pool and spa area. I'm guessing I'll just have to get used to it.

This.

Sounds like a fuss about nothing. My ds swimming pool does this so parents can view lessons. No space for everyone to hover around the pool. I can’t even make out my child so doubt peados are watching. No one is paying attention to you in your swimming costume either.

I think you’re overreacting. You don’t always know who’s watching anyway, CCTV or not. Unless you stop swimming at the end of each length, survey the space and make a note of who’s there and what they’re doing. I presume you don’t do that?

I think it's fairly obvious from comments people make about street CCTV and ring doorbells that I'm far from alone in not liking to be watched by people I can't see looking at me.

It's a very personal thing wearing a wet swimming costume, and if someone comes up to chat to me in the gym or over a coffee I'd really like to know if they've been watching me earlier on.