There is a storm in a swimming pool in brewing in Walsall in the UK. Christian members of the Darlaston Leisure Centre are complaining because the windows are being blacked out in the swimming pool preventing any natural light from entering. And the reason for this? To preserve the modesty of any Muslim swimmers. Or that's what some newspapers would have their readers believe.
Muslim Female Swimmers
The story was first reported in the Express and Star on Saturday 3 July 2010. The paper reports that "windows at a Black Country leisure centre have been covered up at the request of Muslim women who do not want people to see them swimming". These seems a reasonable request however the leisure centre appear to have been rather heavy handed in its approach. The paper goes on to say "The centre opened in 2000 and with its striking glass panels, has been praised for its 'ultra-modern design'. The windows are now covered by a dark film."
These blackened windows have, of course, upset the local non-Muslim residents and users of the pool. The Express and Star quote one of them asking "If it was done for a minority of people, then why was there no vote on it?".
This story was soon picked up by the British national papers.
Political Correctness
The Sun, one of the most popular news papers in the UK, reported that "the local council has covered all 250 windows at the centre". It goes on to say that "other users say the move has plunged the pool into permanent darkness and branded it 'political correctness gone stark-raving mad'"
Even the BBC picked up on the story, saying on 5 July 2010 that "People in the Black Country are angry that windows at a public baths have been covered up because some people do not want to be seen swimming" and that "swimmers are angry that the pool has now lost its 'pleasant views and open air feel'."
However, there appears to be more than one side to the story.
Privacy for all Swimmers
On the 6 July 2010 Walsall Council decided that they should publish what actually happened. They explained that there had been "inaccurate and misleading media coverage of work carried out at Darlaston Leisure Centre" and that they had "come under fire for applying a translucent film to 58 window panels". Councillor Anthony Harris said that "It's common practice for local authorities to introduce similar screenings at pools to improve the privacy and comfort of swimmers" and that this was a replacement for an existing fabric modesty barrier that had been damaged.
So, in fact, only 58 of the centre's 250 were covered and the project was actually to replace the screens that were already there. Hopefully the final words on the subject will be those of Chris Holliday, the head of leisure and culture at Walsall Council, "Not everyone is confident in their Speedos".
Mark Alexander Bain - Mark Alexander Bain is a writer, Mo Bro and consultant for all aspects of software development at dsquared. He has also written regularly ...
