Dulwich leisure centre - NOT Private changing facilities for women

[Magnolia365]

I have copied my recent (6th November letter to Dulwich leisure centre everyone active and the managers response(7th November) Nothing has changed. I've been asking for something to be done for 3 months - I know other women and even staff at the centre have voiced concerns - last week a male staff member said to me - and I quote (...please do complain...)- "..because I know that it's not normal - I basically can see physically everything that's going on." I don't know what else to do - so sharing publicly in the hope it might help some action to be taken.

Dear Manager Dulwich Leisure Centre,

I believe you are manager at Dulwich leisure centre?

I am stating concerns about the pool female changing room - as - despite making 5 complaints now - the problems are escalating. ( I am also considering posting this on the Dulwich forum - I would like a response and my telephone number is at the bottom)

1. The door to the female changing room is not weighted/does not have a catch to stay shut. so even though they have now put signs up saying - please keep door shut- even when people do actually shut it (people do forget which happens when you are busy getting on with things) it often swings open again. I have made 3 complaints about this. I have been told that they too (one of the managers) has registered his concerns 2 months ago - no lasting action appears to have been taken.

Another male staff member said to me - and I quote (...please do complain...)- "I know that it's not normal - I basically can see physically everything that's going on."

2. On Friday I was in the changing room late in the evening alone: a male attendant walked in to check if anyone was still in there - my top was not fully on and he just walked in no warning. He did walk out again and knocked - and mistakes happen - but when I said to him questioningly ' you just walked in without checking...?' he looked at me with a disparaging expression and said 'uh no I didn't'... he was dismissive and rude. he should've just apologised . .. but the way he responded has left me wondering if it was intentional and how often this happens by accident.

3. Today has been the most upsetting - I was changing - naked from the waste down - 2 other women changing too - a female cleaner was cleaning. And a man (staff member)walked into the changing room at the other end and walked through to the showers. He had glanced over and seen women changing / me! and carried on. I shouted down that there should not be a man in the changing room and the (always lovely) cleaner said there were signs warning people. a) I said these must not be clear as I hadn't seen anything b) the other women said there were no signs c) it's irrelevant - given there WERE women changing he should NOT have continued on regardless.

I am upset - shocked and unhappy. This is about the right to change with privacy in an area I have been told is safe and private.

While many of the changes to Dulwich leisure centre have been extremely positive - this is absolutely not on - the door never used to be an issue and no one ever walked in on me before.

Just to add - the majority of the staff - and certainly all the staff that have moved over from the old company are so warm and helpful, kind and respectful. I have been really impressed with the changes. Please let me know what action will be taken to resolve this?

Response I received from the manager -

Thank you for your email, I am the General Manager of the Centre and welcome all forms of feedback.

Firstly please accept my sincere apologies for the issues you have experienced with the changing room door in the ladies, unfortunately this is not a normal door closing system and sourcing the part to rectify what is wrong with it has taken our maintenance team a lot longer than we first thought. This is now on site and our maintenance team have been instructed to carry out the repair when they are on site Wednesday.

With regards to the male cleaner entering the ladies, it is not unusual for us to need to allow male contractors into the female changing rooms for maintenance, but we would ensure we swap changing rooms for occasions the work will take longer than 30 minutes, if it is a short task we would notify all females in the changing room by sending a female colleague in to check the area first, if anyone refused, the male would not be permitted. For cleaning males are permitted into the ladies but only after hours, unless we are without a female cleaner and then we would follow the same procedure as above and put a notice on the door, but the male would not be left alone in the female area. I have spoken to the manager on shift and he was aware the cleaner needed access to assist the female, but he did not follow the correct procedure in notifying the team of when he was going to enter.

We have spoken to the cleaner to ensure he fully understands he is to knock and ask first and if in any doubt ask one of the female colleagues to check the area first before entering. This will be covered in my team meeting today with all my deputies as well. Once the door is repaired I will let you know.

Thank you for your positive feedback regarding the changes we are making and will continue to make.

I have been swimming 5 times since last Wednesday - the day she refers to when it will be fixed. In at least 3 of the sessions the door has been left wide open at some points. I repeat my earlier quote - male staff member said to me - and I quote (...please do complain...)- "I know that it's not normal - I basically can see physically everything that's going on." THIS IS NOT OK DULWICH LEISURE CENTRE AND EVERYONE ACTIVE!!!! This has been going on for 3 months and women cannot get showered or changed in private...!!!!!!!!! What else do I need to do/what else do the staff need to do - for your facilities to be appropriate?

[Robert Poste's Child]

Sympathies. It's been going on much longer than 3 months though as it's one of many things that Fusion never put right. I had a bit of a swear about it last time I was in and a woman walked out to the pool leaving the door wide open, with men passing outside it looking in, while I and others were changing. Shortly before my swear about the cold showers, which I've added to a list that includes lifeguards who only show a sign of life when a woman with a big backside goes past, intimidating behaviour in the pool, lifeguards not making sure people shower before swimming, lifeguards letting people with obvious fungal infections get in the pool...

[Magnolia365]

Thanks for the sympathies Robert Poste's Child - had a couple of private messages with horror stories too - I feel better I'm not the only one - but shocking they don't sort it!!

[Robert Poste's Child]

I do feel they're trying and things are definitely better than under Fusion but they seem a bit overwhelmed by the long list of jobs to do. That said, whether or not doors close properly they do need to educate their male staff to behave professionally towards women in the ways we've been talking about or they risk accusations of sexual harrassment or - given the changing room is also used by young girls during school visits - insufficient safeguarding.

[drewd]

I really hope that this issue can be sorted out by the management of the centre asap. I think the improvements since Everyone Active took over are wonderful. The place is SO MUCH CLEANER. I never saw a cleaner when Fusion ran the place. The changing rooms were a s--thole to be honest. Now I see the cleaner all the time and it delights me. But the privacy issue definitely needs sorting out.

[claresy]

I haven't seen any improvements. I only use the pool but until very recently at least one or two of the showers weren't working or were cold. One doesn't lock. I found used nappies in two of the showers plus big clots of hair. And have also noticed the door issue.

[Pugwash]

Why not put up a temporary screen near the door - those old fashioned ones that they used to have in hospitals would allow some privacy.

Also would a male entering the ladies without a female checking - come under sexual abuse/harassment?

[Robert Poste's Child]

The water is definitely cleaner, in my experience anyway: the texture feels like water rather than spit and there aren't fortnight-old plasters or obvious particles of poo suspended in it. The walls of the whole place seem much brighter and cleaner. Tue changing room floor can be a bit dirty sometimes but when people walk onto an already wet floor in their outdoor shoes, and when they do their hair afterwards, that's probably inevitable and just needs regular management to stay on top of it.

The question of abuse/harrassment may depend on how the women present feel, and on whether the management take action, as much as what the cleaner does. It would be horrible if the cleaner became the focus of this if the real issue is that the management doesn't have the right controls in place.

[Robert Poste's Child]

I swam this evening and the door does seem to have had the weight adjusted. It still doesn't exactly swing shut as you'd expect, but it does seem to move slowly in the right direction, which is an improvement. Still no handle on the pool side to pull it shut behind you with when you go out that way.

After the comments from others above I did find myself noticing the level of dirt and general debris in the showers. There was someone in the shower blowing/clearing their nose literally 30 or so times, which was pretty stomach-churning from a hygiene viewpoint.

[Passiflora]

Thanks Robert Poste!

I signed up to Everyone Active in the summer but now don't fancy visiting the local leisure centres!

It's put me off getting undressed/dressed in privacy so thanks for this post magnolia!

[NewWave]

I've joined Everyone active having seen the improvements made since they took over from fusion.

The water in the pool is definitely cleaner, ditto ladies loos seem cleaner.

The gym is well equipped and the staff as previously mentioned are superb..

Now all we need is an aqua zumba class and I'd be 100% delighted with my discision to join.

[James Barber]

This is totally unacceptable.

I have contacted the director of the service at Southwark Council asking when it will be fixed and why it hasn't been fixed before now.

IF anyone ever has such serious concerns about any Southwark, or for that matter other issue across the East Dulwich area or indeed southwark PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact a councillor such as myself directly and promptly.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Thanks very much for your help sorting this out, James, that's great.

[James Barber]

The Southwark Director has asked me to pass on the councils apology for this situation and that they are immediately talking to the service provider to get these problems fixed.

I'll update later when I have more feedback.

[Tuffstuff100]

Male attendants going into the womens' changing rooms even after knocking is TOTALLY NOT ON! I am pleased Councillor Barber is taking action. Why do they think it is ok? You can't just put all your clothes on rapidly when they knock on the door can you??

[Charlie Smith]

I was at the Dulwich Leisure Centre this morning. I asked a women to check the door to the female changing room. She told me it was closing automatically. I have been having regular meetings with staff and management of the Centre regarding maintenance and cleanliness issues. The cleaning has certainly improved, but this is the standard we should all expect anyway.

As for a male member of staff entering the female changing room, this is completely unacceptable and should never happen. I will bring this up when I next meet with management. I also expect a full apology.

Yours Sincerely

Councillor Charlie Smith

East Dulwich Ward member

[James Barber]

Apologies for not providing the below response from the Director of Environment and Leisure at the start of the week. Huge thanks to the originator highlighting this serious issue:

"

Dear James,

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you about this.

The General Manager (GM) has already taken steps to address the concerns in the following ways:

? The faulty door to the female wet change is now repaired and fully functioning which helps to ensure privacy for users

? The male cleaner who has entered the changing room whilst females were inside has been warned that that behaviour is not acceptable and is aware of the appropriate course of action which is: when a male requires entry into the ladies changing rooms during opening hours (maintenance, cleaning etc) we send a female colleague into the area to check it is clear first, they then give the go ahead to the male to enter or ask him to wait, they are never left unattended as the female will stay by the door to notify customers entering that there is a male in the area completing a task.

. The male lifeguards accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a female swimmer have been spoken to and advised to think before they act and communicate with each other on poolside as this may be misinterpreted. They denied the accusations against them and the GM is satisfied with their explanation

? The male lifeguards have offered to apologise to the user who thought they behaved inappropriately ? I will ask the GM to arrange this and for her to be there to provide re-assurance

Please be assured that the GM will not condone any bad behaviour from her team, and takes matters such as sexual harassment very seriously. She has committed to continuing to monitor the conduct of staff to ensure a high quality, safe and appropriate service is provided to all users.

I hope that this sufficiently responds to the concerns raised but please let me know if not or if you have any further questions or comments related to this matter.

Best wishes

[CHLOE781]

God I have just stumbled across this thread. As an intermittent female user of the centre and a mother of two young children, this is just absolutely awful. I hope the members of staff concerned have received disciplinary offences at work and not 'just' a talking to. I absolutely agree with someone earlier (re male cleaner coming into the female changing area without notice) that this be considered or ought to be considered as an offence. Jesus Christ. Where is the duty of care???

[James Barber]

hi CHLOE781,

It is appalling that I had to escalate this to the councils Director of Environment and Leisure and only then was prompt action taken.

IF anyone experiences ANYTHING out of the ordinary along any of these lines I hope they contact me immediately IF the centre manager doesn't instantly respond to your complaint.