A GROUP of Muslim women claim that Hounslow Council is not doing enough for their exercise needs.
They say that due to religious constraints they can not exercise when there is a man about, even if he is the instructor.
They want more women-only facilities in leisure facilities and have complained, in some centres, even the changing rooms are communal.
Councillor Pritam Grewal said: "We current run a significant number of women's sessions across our Leisure Centres. These include swim sessions, gym sessions and classes."
"However, none of the centres guarantee that there will be female only staff working."
He added it was hard to guarantee female only lifeguards, instructors or even changing facilities, but Isleworth Leisure Centre would see if they could expand on their women only swimming sessions.
Susan Hodgson, Hounslow Council's women and girls development officer for sport, said: "Over three years ago Hounslow council identified the need to increase women and girls' increase participation in sports across the borough.
"It is a very ethnically diverse area and for a lot of Muslim women they need to have reassurance that the instructor will definitely be female and there will not be able to be viewed by the public."
She added that on Fridays she offered female only activities such as badminton, zumba and keep-fit from 5.15 to 7.15pm at Cranford Community College in High Street, Cranford.
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