Harrogate Borough Council is set to decide next year whether to end same-sex sessions at the town’s Turkish baths.

The council, which runs the baths, told the Stray Ferret today it planned to publish a report based on its recent consultation by early next year.

The council has said a timetable consisting entirely of mixed sessions would reflect “equality and balance”.

It opened an online consultation in July seeking views on the possible axeing of same-sex sessions. The consultation, which ran while the baths were closed, has now finished.

Read more:

• Turkish Baths Harrogate considers cutting same sex sessions
• How the council handed over control of leisure services to a new company
• When the district’s leisure facilities closed over coronavirus fears

Harrogate’s Turkish baths remain closed for sessions but have been open since August for treatments only.

A spokesman for the council said it would publish its report on the consultation “in December of possibly January”. A decision will be taken shortly afterwards.

The baths stopped male-only sessions back in 2011 in the wake of reports of “inappropriate behaviour,” only to bring them back five years later.

It is unclear when a new timetable, if implemented, would happen. The government has not indicated when saunas or spa rooms are set to reopen.

Turkish Baths Harrogate is considering dropping single-sex sessions from its timetable.

Harrogate Borough Council, which runs the baths, said a timetable consisting entirely of mixed sessions would reflect “equality and balance”.

A spokesperson for the council told The Stray Ferret:

“We’re considering the removal of single sex sessions from the timetable at the Turkish Baths to reflect the increased spotlight on equality and balance across the world. This change would allow complete accessibility during the timetable for all genders. We see this as a positive development allowing greater access to all our customers and would allow us to fully, and fairly, consider all genders and orientations.”

This consultation comes at a time when there are debates about how transgender people use different facilities.

Read more:

• How the council handed over control of leisure services to a new company
• When the district’s leisure facilities closed over coronavirus fears

The baths stopped male-only sessions back in 2011 in the wake of reports of “inappropriate behaviour,” only to bring them back five years later.

Now Turkish Baths Harrogate has launched an online survey to gauge the demand for single-sex sessions.

It is unclear when this new rule could come into place. The government has not yet given saunas or spa rooms the green light to reopen.