Angry naturists are contemplating legal action against leisure center management, accusing them of discrimination for abruptly canceling their longstanding naked swim session after over four decades. The Northampton Sun Club members, totaling around 200, are dismayed and puzzled by the decision to disallow their monthly dip at Mounts Baths, a tradition they have upheld since 1982.
The group, which had exclusive access to the venue for their two-and-a-half-hour swim and sauna gatherings, has been informed of a new policy requiring clothes during the sessions. Everyone Active, the current operators of the Northants center, cited a lack of available lifeguards during the club’s swimming time as the reason for revoking their regular booking.
For a fee of £10 per person, club members enjoyed the swim along with access to the sauna, steam room, plunge pool, and Turkish baths at the facility. Despite the cancellation, no alternative arrangements have been proposed, leaving organizers disheartened and contemplating their next course of action.
Expressing their disappointment, chairwoman Maggie Moreton criticized the decision, highlighting the contradiction with the leisure center’s purported goal of fostering socialization and fitness. She emphasized the group’s respectful and inclusive nature, emphasizing the long-standing private nature of their sessions and the strong community bonds formed over the years.
Maggie expressed skepticism towards the staffing justification provided, questioning the sudden change after decades of uneventful swims. She hinted at potential legal recourse if the center remains unresponsive to their grievances, as the club feels marginalized and left with no alternative options.
David Farnsworth, the club’s treasurer, condemned the decision as discriminatory, attributing it to a lack of understanding and appreciation for their naturist activities. He highlighted the club’s adherence to safety protocols and the disappointment felt by over 190 members who valued the liberating and non-sexual nature of their swims.
Following a change in leisure operators to Everyone Active, the club’s future bookings were abruptly canceled, with the company standing firm on the ban of nude swimming. Simon Fearn, the regional contract manager, explained the inability to facilitate naturist sessions due to staffing constraints, promising a review if circumstances change in the future.