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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:16 August 2007

Where’s the dignity?

• THE assistant director of culture’s letter (Changing rooms will offer sport centre a flexible mix, August 9) offers no comfort whatsoever to those who want dignity and normal modesty in the showers and changing areas at the Kentish Town swimming baths.
This wretched open plan “village” idea tries to be everything to everyone and will satisfy no one.
Forget about Sport England’s guidance – aren’t they the people who largely funded the Talacre Community Sports Centre, praising its spacious setting and then allowing a private developer’s cramped scheme to ruin the forecourt without a whimper?
To the best of my recollection, from attending the July 19 meeting at the Kentish Town Library, there were two separate showers, but these were open and situated side by side, so that anyone wishing to stare into the cubicles could do so with impunity.
How are people supposed to make their way from the showers to the changing area in dignity unless they keep their swimming suits on? This situation is totally unacceptable to swimmers by any standard. Cubicles for this, cubicles for that.
What happened to old fashioned common sense whereby female swimmers go one way, and male swimmers, the other way?
This would avoid complicated, confusing arrangements.
I note that studio and fitness gym users on the first floor are to be given separate shower and changing facilities without having to start a huge campaign for modesty and privacy. What are we to make of such discrimination?
No one cares what other swimming pools elsewhere are attempting to do with mixed facilities in this modern, 21st-century frenzy. I guarantee it won’t work in north London. We are paying the bill for these £25.3 million facilities and the least Fiona Dean can do to appease the majority is to grant them simple, traditional, inexpensive, segregated showering and changing facilities. No funny business.
Sadly, the false start made on changing room plans is only the first of many hurdles the pool designers have to jump. The public can spot a charlatan scheme a mile off. Swiss Cottage has educated us and we don’t want a repeat of such massive ineptitude.
CELINE LA FRENIERE
Talacre Road, NW5

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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