Hampstead Heath spends £1m on 'privacy' upgrades after letting trans swimmers in women's pond
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Changes were being made after only 13 per cent wanted the ponds to become strictly single-sex
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Hampstead Heath will spend £1million on "privacy" upgrades after granting trans swimmers access to women's ponds.
The Ladies' Pond will remain "trans inclusive", City of London Corporation councillors have ruled, despite the landmark Supreme Court decision that the term "woman" refers to biological sex rather than gender identity.
The gaggle of councillors admitted the pond's rules only aligned with the previous interpretation of the Equality Act 2010 and had been in operation since 2017.
The authority has given the green light to keep access as it currently operates - allowing both trans women and biological women there.
According to its current rulebook, the Ladies' Pond admits both biological women and trans women, while the men's pond operates on the same principle for men.
Hampstead Heath features three bathing areas: Kenwood Ladies' Pond, Highgate Men's Pond and a mixed swimming space.
The authority said it would review the current policies in place in light of the Supreme Court judgement, running a consultation which received more than 38,000 responses.
But, after around 13 per cent saying they wished for the Men's and Ladies' to become single-sex spaces, committee members elected to keep the space open to trans swimmers.

Changes were being made after only 13 per cent wanted the ponds to become strictly single-sex
|GETTY
Meanwhile, some 86 per cent supporting maintaining the ponds' access policy as it currently operates.
To appease women who want privacy, the committee members decided to splash £1million to improve changing, showering and toilet facilities instead of enforcing the judicial decision.
The committee's executive director of environment Katie Stewart said the upgrades would allow those wanting to change privately could do so.
Maya Forstater, Sex Matters's chief executive, previously said its plans to remain the same were "simply unlawful" and that it is operating "as if Hampstead Heath is an enclave that is outside of the law".
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Hampstead Heath Ladies' Pond has been at the centre of the row
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She said: "The City of London is proposing to continue with its approach of allowing fully intact males into the women's bathing pond, including changing rooms and showers which are used by girls as young as eight.
"Despite the fact that the Equality Act and the Supreme Court expressly recognise that single-sex services are legitimate and lawful, the City of London says that restricting access to the open showers, changing and swimming areas by sex 'would be disproportionate' because it would affect men who identify as women."
Back in March, the gender critics Sex Matters won permission from the Court of Appeal to pursue its legal battle against the group over trans access to the bathing ponds.
Mrs Justice Lieven had previously blocked the judicial review in January, ruling that the county court was the "appropriate forum" rather than the High Court.
Sex Matters subsequently sought appeal permission, contending the judge had erred in law.
Then, in April, officials overseeing the London beauty spot said its single-sex bathing ponds should keep their doors open to transgender swimmers.
A final decision is expected at the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on June 4.
A CLC spokesman said: "All options have been informed by our recent public consultation, expert legal advice, equality impact assessments, safeguarding responsibilities, and operational requirements."










