Mr Bean at the Swimming Pool
Swimmers have been banned from showering naked at their local pool – in case they offend children.
Bathers have been told to keep their swimming costumes on while using the showers following complaints from local schools that pupils were offended by ‘open nudity’ and needed ‘a certain amount of privacy.’
Swimmers who regularly use the Torridge Pool in Northam, Devon, described the rule as ‘health and safety gone mad.’
A swimming pool has banned bathers from showering naked
Local councillor Hugh Bone said the decision was ‘ridiculous’ and vowed to fight the ban by continuining to showering in the nude.
Grandfather-of-four Hugh said: ‘This surely is ridiculous. People should not believe that we are all perverts.
‘Boys and men as well as girls and women have always changed in front of each other and this is part of the growing up experience.’
One mother-of-two added: ‘We all want our children to be safe but this a step too far. I don’t think we should teach them that nudity is something to be ashamed of.
‘We are all born naked and have our imperfections. This strikes me as health and safety gone mad.’
The lido is used by 13 primary and junior schools in the area who have exclusive use of the pool at certain times of the week.
But members of the public can still use the changing rooms at the same time as the pupils, either from a previous swimming session or after the gym.
But some of the schools say they want Parkwood Leisure, which runs the facility, to allow them exclusive use of the changing rooms.
Torridge Pool’s general manager Bob Demott said asking members to wear a swimsuit during school visiting times was a reasonable compromise.
He said there had never been any incidents at the leisure centre and the measure was a safeguard for both the children and adults.
Mr Demott said: ‘We do have a private room in both the male and female changing rooms that the public can request the key for should they wish to shower naked when the pupils are there.’
Local councillor Gaye Tabor added: ‘Children need to learn
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