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Regular swimmers at the iconic pools have complained in recent months that men who identify as women, and wearing women’s swimming costumes, have been using the pond. A spokesman for the City of London Corporation said men transitioning to women will be allowed to use the pond and the female changing rooms The decision has outraged female users as there is a men’s and mixed pond available. Margaret Roberts told the Mail on Sunday about an incident when she asked a Spanish male, who said he identified as a woman, but “looked and dressed like a man” to leave but he refused.

GETTY Transitioning men are to be allowed to use women's only facilities

It is unacceptable to allow men who identify as women, but who are otherwise male bodied and socialised as men, to be in a women-only spaces Julie Bindel

She said that swimmers were “appalled” after a “young man” wearing a bikini claimed to be transitioning and used the pond. Further controversy was sparked when a woman transitioning to be a man called for the pond to be made “gender fluid”. The City of London Corporation spokesman said: “Over the last year all lifeguards and managers at Hampstead Heath ponds have taken transgender awareness training courses, which have been offered to, and taken by, the ponds’ swimming associations as well. “We are working with the LGBTQ community to ensure our facilities are fit to serve the needs of everyone who enjoys them, and will continue to do so in the future.”

GETTY Many have hit back at the controversial new measures