Voyeurism concerns at pool's mixed changing rooms

The new leisure centre in Stevenage is expected to cost £44.2m

Police have raised "substantive concerns" about the potential of voyeurism taking place in the mixed changing rooms of a proposed swimming pool.

Hertfordshire Constabulary told a planning meeting it could not support Stevenage Borough Council's plan to replace the town's existing swimming pool with a new £44m leisure centre.

A crime prevention officer voiced concerns over plans to keep mixed changing rooms as the current facility has been the subject of voyeurism reports.

The authority said it would make a final decision on the proposal on Tuesday.

The new building would be three or four storeys tall, with customers having access to a 53-space car park via Fairlands Way.

The project is expected to cost £44.2m, with £10m of the figure being received from the government's Towns Fund, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The new centre would include a 82ft (25m) long swimming pool with 10 lanes, as well as a teaching pool, splash pad, six-court sports hall, gym, studios, changing facilities and a café.

It would combine facilities currently provided across the Swimming Centre and the Arts and Leisure Centre, next to Lytton Way.

Police said they have received reports of voyeurism at the mixed changing facilities used by the existing pool

According to Hertfordshire Constabulary 76 crimes were recorded at the existing site between 1 May 2024 and 31 April 2025.

Although the force did not specify how many of these were related to voyeurism, it said 20 involved assault - including sexual assault - and another 12 involved anti-social behaviour.

The police officer told the meeting: "There have already been reports of voyeurism in the existing mixed-changing facilities and this could increase if mixed facilities are provided."

The officer suggested redesigning the facility as "doing so would also demonstrate that the issue of violence towards women and girls has been considered".

The existing pool would remain open while construction work takes place at the proposed new site

Swim England warned that the proposed pool depth of 5.9ft (1.8m) is shallower than the existing pool and below the required depth for artistic swimming, which could lead to the closure of Aqualina Artistic Swimming Club which uses the site.

The governing body told the council: "There is no suitable alternative provision available nearby and there is potential that the club would have to close, therefore."

The new facility will also not include any squash courts, compared to six in the existing leisure centre, while the sports hall will be two courts smaller.

Sport England said that there would be "impacts on some sports" but pointed out that other facilities would gain space, including swimming.

It also said that the current swimming centre and leisure centre – built in 1962 and 1975 respectively – are "reaching the end" of their lifespans and would not be likely to remain financially stable.