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Pool boss denies 'false' breastfeeding story

Sun, 15 May 2016

The chairman of the Western Swimming Pool has accused a national newspaper of printing a “false” story about a mother being stopped from breastfeeding there.

In a statement posted on Facebook Adrian Christian says they "completely deny" the “facts of the incident” as reported in the Daily Mail.

The story alleges that a local woman was forced to stop feeding her baby daughter whilst they were in the pool in July 2014 – with claims she was posing a risk to life.

Mr Christian admits she was asked to stop for “safety reasons” – but because the ratio is one adult to two children and her husband was left with three kids under the age of eight.

He says the pool has always allowed breastfeeding and it’s “a shame” that the journalist from the publication failed to report his response to the questions she put to him.

Claims that the woman had won a “landmark legal battle” were also disputed – Mr Christian says it made ‘commercial sense’ to pay her £2,000 in compensation.

He said whilst they were prepared to defend the “defamatory accusations” they took the best option for the pool’s finances – which are supported by tax and rate payers money.

 

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