Concern has been raised about plans to restore the changing rooms for the main pool in the Health Hydro.
The plans submitted by Swindon Borough Council for the £6.5million first phase of restoration work show that as well as some group changing rooms, the main changing facility for both the main pool and the gym will be a large room containing lockable cubicles.
That’s in line with the Victorian original – but Gerry Hannon of the Friends of the Health Hydro expressed reservations as the room itself would not be segregated by sex.
He told the cabinet member in charge of the project Matty Courtliff: “This would be used by men and women, boys and girls, gym and pool users.
“Has the community really been consulted enough on this? The baths are in a central part of town, in a very diverse community. The nearby school has pupils who speak about 50 languages.
“There may be communities whose customs and practices would not allow women to use such a changing room.”
Coun Courtliff said he had found such cubicles helpful when taking his son and daughter swimming at other centres and promised to look into the engagement.
The plans are expected to be decided upon at next month's planning committee meeting on Tuesday, April 11.
If they are approved the centre will close in May and work on the first phase of restoration is expected to take 18 months.
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