People in Tameside are calling for a local gym to introduce family cubicles in the male changing room after the current set up left parents and children feeling "uncomfortable."
Members of Gymetc in Stalybridge claim young girls under the age of eight are being allowed into male changing area, but say there's nowhere private for them to undress.
They are calling for family cubicles to be built inside the male changing room, amid claims these already exist in the ladies area.
READ MORE: Police watchdog to investigate allegation trainee officer was bullied before death
Currently, men are being made to feel "uncomfortable" and some parents have stopped using the gym without their partner because they say they feel uneasy taking their daughters into the changing rooms.
In a post on a local Tameside community Facebook group, one resident said she'd had a "debate" with the gym about the set up.
"Had a heated debate with the manager at Gymetc Stalybridge this morning regarding young girls under 8 being allowed in the male changing room - something my husband and a number of other men feel uncomfortable with," she wrote.
"There is no privacy for little girls to change/shower and they are surrounded by men in various states of undress. Having little girls undressing in front of them makes many males feel vulnerable to potential accusations of inappropriate staring.
"The manager says they can't discriminate against single fathers and when they reach 8 the girls are judged old enough to use the female changing room alone. They also said this was Tameside Council's rules not theirs.
"A solution to this would be for the gym to provide one or two family cubicles in the male changing rooms, as there are in the ladies, to protect both the children and the men."
Gymetc have said they do not believe they 'are in breach of any legislation but are willing to review our current approach'.
However other locals agreed with the resident, with one person commenting: "So they've just catered to the mothers and not the fathers. Doesn't matter if the father is single or not he could just want to spend time with his child.
"How ridiculous! They should absolutely have family cubicles in the male bathroom. How can they just assume it's only women who take their kids out."
Another said: "My daughter has commented on the fact that there are no family changing rooms in the male changing room. Her partner will not longer take them to swimming lessons alone as they have twins, a boy and a girl, and he is not comfortable taking her into the male changing room."
One resident wrote: "Single dad since my daughter was four-years-old. She's been going in the women's toilets on her own for a while now but when she was younger I found it awkward taking her in the men's toilets with me let alone having to put her in a situation like this. It's awkward for the child and also for the men too."
According to guidance from the NSPCC: "If mixed use of the changing facility by adults and children is unavoidable, at least two members of staff should supervise the group.
"Supervision in the changing room may also be necessary when leisure facilities have established guidelines that any child below the age of eight years must be accompanied."
Gymetc Stalybridge said in a statement: "Our Safeguarding Policy statement identifies our commitment to children’s safety and compliance with the legislation. We do not believe that we are in breach of any legislation, however, we are willing to review our current approach and appreciate that emotionally this may cause some members discomfort."
A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “We’ve not received any complaints in relation to this matter nor provided any advice or instruction. The gym owners and managers are responsible for health and safety in order to protect gym workers as well as anyone on site and to create a safe space.
“Should we receive any complaints we would investigate further to ensure sufficient risk assessments and measures are in place. Any breaches identified under the Health and Safety at Work Act would result in relevant enforcement action being taken.”
READ NEXT:
Patients face new backlog after IT and phone system crash resolved
Boy, 16, arrested after man brutally attacked following row on Manchester train
Ford Sierra Cosworth driver caught speeding at 104mph in 30mph street handed police notice
Fox found dead with dog lead around its neck could have been used to fight other animals
