Women’s toilets now gender neutral in Northampton Park

[bloodyhamabeads]

I noticed this today while walking in Abington Park in Northampton. Only the women’s has changed, the men’s is still labelled ‘gentlemen’.

Is this actually legal? I’ve heard the equality act mentioned and had a quick google but I wondered whether anyone can point me in the right direction of some legislation I can quote when I write to the council.

EyesOpening

I sent mine to

[email protected]

and got a fairly swift response from her office

bloodyhamabeads did she actually call them 'mixed sex' in her response to you? They always use gender bloody neutral on signs which is a lie.

The trouble is, these things are done by stealth and when people don't notice they can say that no one objected. It's bloody infuriating!

theshoesa let me check. I wasn’t sure whether I was allowed to copy and paste the email here?

This is what she said:

The women’s toilets have been opened as a trial to provide toilet provision for anyone who might require it

Quite. 'Trial' does essentially mean: we're making female people more vulnerable for a while to see if anything bad (enough) happens.

That sentence doesn't even make sense to me, but I think you're right that she means mixed sex but is avoiding saying it, especially in writing!

Is she implying that the trial is to see if it brings more people to the park? But in that case, why not open all the toilets? It is so bloody frustrating, all of this!

Why not open both to provide toilet provision.

l noticed before COVID 19 men were getting quite comfortable using the ladies as noticed by myself a girlfriend and my partner none of us were impressed.

l have sent a joint email to m goodman and the parks ( PMC )

Regardless of whether it's a 'trial' or not, the correct legalities still have to be adhered to. Floor to ceiling cubicles with a handbasin in each one. Ask to see any risk assessments they have carried out.

This is local ish to me too-

I was all set to email but I’ve stopped in my tracks, my son has an EHCP and we will be choosing a secondary school for him soon, and I’m actually scared to email in case this somehow ends up affecting my son — I’m actually worried about speaking up in case some bastard in the council starts making life difficult. How have we got here ??

freekitties that’s perfectly understandable- we have to put our families first before we can fight any other fires don’t we. My husband jokingly said to me ‘don’t get too involved- we don’t want a brick through the window’.
We’re applying soon too- good luck. It’s the county council that handles schools, not the borough council, if that helps xxx

Oooh you’re right it is county isn’t it!

I’m going to get up nice and early and get an email sent. Strength in numbers isn’t there and the more we speak out the better xxx

freekitties nice one, yeah strength in numbers 💪💪.

Prompted by another thread, I thought I’d have a look for the council’s equality policy... 🙄

Sex

And

Pregnancy/maternity missing.

Quelle surprise. That could be pointed out in emails to the council and the local journalists.

Humans Rights(??)

That list is just made up shit. Is it illegal for a councillors to put out made up shit when touching on issues of Law?

That is really dangerous :(

@TheShoesa

EyesOpening

I sent mine to

[email protected]

and got a fairly swift response from her office

Thank you. Have sent one now.

Also forgot to say well done to OP for spotting and taking action

Yep - gender in that list shouldn’t be there - it should be “sex”

I’ve woken up full of belly fire and emailed the council and copied Liz Truss in. We shouldn’t have to fight for single sex provision all over again- but we will . And the more of us that stand together the stronger we are.

I’m going to come out full GC on social media soon.

Fantastic work freekitties

I’ve just emailed about the missing ‘sex’ and ‘pregnancy and maternity’ and copied in Liz Truss.

www.northampton.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/4630/equality-strategy-2014-refresh.pdf

Fab, I will as well. It’s time to start holding them to account.

Nice one freekitties
Thank you purplehoodie