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16
Apr 2021
Council set to retain single-sex sessions at Turkish Baths
Harrogate Borough Council is set to retain single-sex sessions at the town’s Turkish Baths, but make swimwear compulsory.
Last year, the council considered scrapping single-sex sessions in order to reflect "equality and balance".
The authority launched a consultation into the matter, which ran while the baths were closed.
In a report due before the Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Sport next week, council officers have recommended two weekly single-sex sessions for males and females under a new timetable.
Read more:
- Turkish Baths Harrogate considers cutting same-sex sessions
- How the council handed over control of leisure services to a new company
Currently, it offers three single-sex sessions for women and one for men.
The council has also recommended making it a requirement to wear suitable swimwear for these sessions.
The authority said the changes would promote inclusivity, enable male and female attendants to work at both sessions and help it comply with the Equality Act 2010.
In the report, it said:
The consultation received 325 responses - 89% of which said they booked single-sex sessions at the baths, while 90% believed a move to a fully mixed timetable would not allow for equal access to all customers.
The council said the new timetable for sessions would come into force when the Turkish Baths fully reopened.
It added that the timetable would be reviewed every six months to ensure it had "no negative commercial impact”.
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