How to challenge mixed changing at local pool

[SomeOriginalUserName]

I usually lurk & learn but can't find anything with a search, so can anyone help?

My local pool, owned by the council but signed over to Everyone Active to run, has used the Covid19 situation as an excuse to replace single-sex changing with mixed changing areas.

They claim this is to comply with one direction flow requirements - the separate areas are on either side of a central corridor. Entry is now on the left of the corridor, the same side the men's area is on, and this is now a mixed area. The women's area is on the right and, inexplicably, is completely closed off: People exit on that side so no one can use it. Real nonsense.

I've suggested separate times for male & female, or finding another area somewhere else in the large centre for a second change area, but the male manager has completely dismissed me.

I've cited the Equality Act and single-sex provision. Ignored.

I've countered his 'but there are cubicles' argument by explaining that the 2 foot gap at the top and bottom of the changing stalls and shower stalls are nowhere near offering security and privacy, but he's dismissed me. He's made some references to these meeting standards for Swim England and Sport England?!? And when I've referred him to figures on sexual assaults in leisure centres and info on up-skirting and men shoving cameras under gaps to take photos, he's gone on about gaps being necessary to clean!

And he really isn't interested when I point out that failure to provide safe, private single-sex facilities is exactly why women and girls stop doing sport - because we're effectively shut out.

I understand the guidance about coming ready to swim: I had my costume on under my clothes. But I still need a safe, private area away from men to undress, check my tampon, use the loos, and to shower and change afterwards - I'm not going to put my clothes on over a wet costume and get the bus home before being able to wash out the dirt and chemicals of the pool.

And the excuses he's given for not providing this just don't cut it.

They won't put the info about removing single-sex changing on the website tho - afraid of the publicity I suppose - so women are paying and booking swim sessions only to have to turn around and leave when they discover the situation. I'm not the only one whose complained, but I'm not sure what to do next.

I've emailed the local council, since they own the site and Everyone Active has claimed they're okay with the mixed changing.

And I'm going to write to head office to ask why they think they can ignore the Equality Act, dismiss women's concerns and bar them from the pool unless they're willing to compromise their safety.

Anything else I can do?

Everyone Active have form for failing to provide single-sex facilities in other centres they run and I really don't want to see this happening at my local pool.

(GGGrrrr - waiting all year for the pool to re-open and now the hottest summer ever and I can't swim unless I agree to put myself in an unsafe situation. )

[MishyJDI]

I have no issues with unisex changing rooms as long as they have private cubicles and toilets. That is how my local pool is, and seems to work quite well - especially for families where you can get a family cubicle.

[334bu]

I have no issues with unisex changing rooms as long as they have private cubicles and toilets. That is how my local pool is, and seems to work quite well - especially for families where you can get a family cubicle.

However, the problems of flashing and voyeurism are still occurring in the above style changing areas, because, although there are cubicles there have to be gaps for drainage and just because a cubicle can lock doesn't mean that a man cannot stand with his cubicle door open flashing his bits at all and sundry. In my opinion the easy fix to this is 3 types of changing area family, female and male.

[EBearhug]

I only use the swimming pool where I go, so I've no idea what the changing is like on the dry side.

For the pools, there is a unisex changing village, with single, double and family cubicles. They're arranged in corridors and you can see down the lines from the poolside, so lifeguards can keep an eye. There is usually one lifeguard sloshing water about and mopping the cubicles as well. There are bars across the top of all cubicles. There are 6" gaps at the bottom, which I always assumed was to allow water/airflow, so you don't get soggy, rotting wood at the base, so it keeps it cleaner. Showers are mostly poolside, with an enclosed shower cubicles at the pool end of each line of changing cubicles if you want to strip off to shower. The only person I've seen going around naked was an escaped toddler. That doesn't mean it never happens, but I think the arrangement open to the pool with frequent cleaning makes it more difficult. I prefer having an individual cubicle shared with no one to an open-plan single-sex changing area, but in most pools, you don't get a choice, it's either/or.

I can see that a changing village is a more efficient use of the space. When I swim lanes, it's usually a roughly even mix of men and women. At aquafit, it's one, occasionally two men, and all the rest women. We all use cubicles whatever the mix, and though cubicles use more space than just open-plan, you only need one area of them, rather than two separate rooms, so it's probably less space in total. And family cubicles definitely make sense if you have children who can't yet dress unsupervised.

Loos are single sex, though, except the disabled loos, which are individual rooms with all the space and rails etc they need.

There are pros and cons to mixed villages or single sex changing rooms; I think the main issue is trying to adapt a single sex changing room to be used by both sexes, because it just isn't designed for that, so you lose the pros of that format without gaining any of the benefits other way of doing it.

[randomsabreuse]

The current restrictions on numbers mean that there are 14 cubicles out of 40+? available with all the adjacent cubicles locked (enforced distancing) - unlikely to be any safer options as you'd definitely get attention from staff lurking in the corridors.

Earlier on in the pandemic (November) it was very much come beach ready, "change" on poolside, including kids' lessons. If I had a public transport journey I'd wear a 2 piece (Tankini type) and and a long dress like I would to a beach/wild swim.

[SomeOriginalUserName]

@334bu

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10807028.why-didnt-leisure-centre-act-faster-when-i-alerted-them-to-man-filming-in-cubicle/
Everyone Active Bournemouth this time.

Thanks for sharing these two articles 334bu

I'm compiling a list to send to Everyone Active.

I'm not writing to the CEO, but I've found the details for their Aquatics Manager, who is a woman, and I'm hoping might care more than the other EA employees I've spoken to so far.

I've also had a chat with the Equality Office at the local council who, I'm relieved to say, understood the points I was making and took them seriously.

Although I was left with the impression that the matter is still considered low on the priority list, given the Covid-19 upsurge.

But there's always going to be something that takes priority, isn't there?

[SomeOriginalUserName]

@CharlieParley

Btw, mixed-sex changing facilities can be designed with safety and privacy in mind. I've used such facilities and without issues. But the open-plan "changing village" style so popular in the UK does not qualify as safe or private.

Yeah, but the changing village style is cheap and convenient, isn't it?

There just isn't any will to make the effort to ensure the needs of women & girls are met, and won't be unless we push it.

If we don't, women will just be pushed out.

I hope you find some way to get back swimming.

[SomeOriginalUserName]

@looptheloopinahulahoop

My local pool is also Everyone Active and since the old pool was demolished and the new one built, it is also a unisex changing village with different size cubicles. I actually thought it was quite practical, especially for mums to take sons swimming, or dads daughters, and I've not heard of any concerns about ogling, cameras or naked men showering in the public showers.

There are a couple of lockable cubicles for showering, and I suppose if you were really concerned about the cubicles you could change in the single sex loos.

Most people in our area just like to moan about the price of swimming lessons...or the cleanliness of the changing rooms, but that was at the old centre (they were a bit grim).

It's great that provision is made for families, and so it should be. But it should be made alongside provision for single-sex facilities, so that people not visiting with families but who require single sex facilities also get their needs met.

Why the heck should I have to change in a dirty, smelly, unhygienic toilet?!?!?

You think that's an okay choice? Change somewhere my privacy and safety is compromised, or figure out how to change without trailing my clothes in puddles of urine?

Sheesh.

[MurielSpriggs]

Missing the point entirely, why are these things called changing villages? Aren't they just changing areas? I imagine a village needing a little shop, a pub, a church ...

[Floisme]

@MurielSpriggs

Missing the point entirely, why are these things called changing villages? Aren't they just changing areas? I imagine a village needing a little shop, a pub, a church ...

I don't think it's missing the point in the slightest. Whenever I see language manipulated like this I think, what do they really mean and what are they trying to hide?

[334bu]

Would be interesting to see whether any meaningful Equality Impact Assessment were ever done? Also whether records of even minor infringements of public decency have been kept and whether any campaigns have been instigated to encourage service users to report such incidents. I bet you that before setting up such places nobody consulted the police regarding the possibility of increased voyeurism etc.

[PurgatoryOfPotholes]

That's a really interesting point, Muriel. "Changing village" sounds so friendly, and welcoming, doesn't it?

How keen would customers be if the facilities were described less picturesquely?

[namechangedontfireme]

This seems like a ridiculous oversight on the part of the pool. What do they propose doing after covid?

Sorry, please could you give a bit more detail about the cubicles?

When you say a gap at the top, how high is the door above your head?

How low is the door at the bottom? I.e. Can you see ankles or can you see knees?

I’ve been in single sex cubicles before where the walls only go to eye level so you can have conversations across the top of them. Definitely no privacy.

And, on a trip to America, I was shocked that in several places toilet doors seemed to only go from knee to eye level! I’ve also experienced this in a bar in London. It was very odd.

[jakalaka]

God I hate the perving village! Our local pool is notorious for it.

I just use private gyms now. Never seen this changing village carry on in a private gym - just male, female, family, disabled.

[Thecatonthemat]

Brilliant example of woman taking no shit in spa in USA