Hampstead Heath Ladies’ Pond will not ban trans women in wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark biological sex ruling.
The women-only pool yesterday doubled down on its inclusive gender policy despite the unanimous judgement earlier this month that trans women are not legally female.
It comes amid a row dating back to 2017 when the Mail on Sunday revealed the City of London Corporation had agreed to allow trans women to use the pool and female changing rooms.
And in 2019, the local authority caused further controversy when it adopted a ‘self-ID policy’ – despite the objections from women who said they felt ‘unsafe’ as a result.
Gender critical feminists have since campaigned to ‘reclaim’ the pond, which is Britain’s sole women-only natural bathing pool.
However, the City of London Corporation confirmed on Wednesday it would keep its current gender policy in place while it considers the implications of the Supreme Court ruling, The Telegraph has reported.
The decision has been blasted by feminist campaigners as ‘invasive, discriminatory and unlawful’.
Prominent barrister Sarah Vine KC warned the ponds should now describe themselves as mixed sex and that the current labels could expose the corporation to legal challenge.
Hampstead Heath Ladies’ Pond will not ban trans women in wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark biological sex ruling (file photo)
A feminist activist, Venice Allan (pictured), became the first woman to be banned from an historic association representing users of the North London pond
Gender critical feminists have campaigned to ‘reclaim’ the pond, which is Britain’s sole women-only natural bathing pool
She said: ‘Any continued description of two of the ponds as ‘men’s’ and ‘ladies’ will expose the Corporation to discrimination claims.’
Venice Allen, 49, said female-only spaces were needed for ‘safety, privacy and dignity’.
‘It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that the Corporation is trying to fudge this,’ she added.
Ms Allen last year became the first woman to be banned from an historic association representing users of the North London pond after she objected to biological males being permitted entry.
She was told in an email from the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association (KLPA) in May that her membership had been revoked because of her views.
Speaking at an AGM in March last year, Ms Allan said: ‘When the inevitable happens as a result of your trans inclusive policy that the majority of women, and, so I am told, two men, have voted for today, and a man that you’re so inclusive of attacks or rapes a girl, I want you to remember you voted for that.
‘I hope that you wake up in the middle of the night and remember that you made that act of male violence in a sacred woman’s space possible.’
Picture shows Kenwood Ladies Pond on Hampstead Heath, North London
Members of ‘Man Friday’ disrupt the men only bathing session at Hampstead Heath Pools in a protest over the gender policy in 2018
She told the Mail on Sunday afterwards: ‘I’m not banned from the pond, but the ban means I can no longer vote on any of the rules.
‘More importantly banning me sends a message – just a year before we celebrate a 100 years of this iconic women’s space – that women who object to men using the pool are not welcome.’
The KLPA is a voluntary organisation of women who ‘care’ about Hampstead ladies’ pond and represent the view of its users to the City of London Corporation, who are in charge of administering the beauty spot.
Ms Allan said she was given seven days to appeal or her annual membership fee would be donated to the Royal National Lifeguard Institution.
A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said that its policy was not ‘unlawful’.
‘These accusations are completely false. The City Corporation is compliant with existing UK law,’ they said.
‘In line with other affected organisations we are carefully considering the judgment and awaiting statutory guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission – which service providers must take into account.’
MailOnline has contacted the local authority for further comment.
