Camden New Journal

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

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

Design for a costume drama

• ASSISTANT director of culture for Camden, Fiona Dean, tries to reassure us that things will be suitably modest at the new Kentish Town sport centre while describing changing-cubicles situated side-by-side with male and female visitors (Changing rooms will offer sport centre a flexible mix, August 9) What a cheek!
Camden, it would seem, is under the misguided impression that privacy is not going to be an issue with swimmers since they are are now planning to have them shower and change in what they call an open-plan “village” at their proposed Kentish Town pools.
Next they will announce that swimmers will be expected to shower with their swimming suits on to get around the problem they have engineered.
Just in case that is what they have in mind (and I fear they do), then they should know that any costume-wearing suggestion in the showers would be considered by the likes of me an absurdity.
Apart from the unsatisfactory business of washing with a garment on, it results in changing areas becoming awash with water from dripping costumes when swimmers return from the showers.
Evidently, there is little understanding on the part of the designers of the practicalities of showering and dressing.
As for men and women sharing the same dressing area (with or without cubicles provided), no one in their right mind would take such a suggestion seriously, let alone parade it publicly as a virtue. Without hesitation, Camden should now undo the public relations damage the designers have caused and instruct them to revert to modest arrangements, both in the showers and in the changing area.
Public decency means a lot to many of us if not to those involved in the refurbishment of the baths.
Liberal Democrat triumphs in Kentish Town are rapidly being squandered needlessly – listen to the people not Sport England nonsense.
KATHY REID
Pilgrim’s Lane, NW3

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.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: