Mum hits out after incident leaves son with night terrors
A MUM has hit out at a Glasgow sports centre, claiming an upsetting experience gave her autistic son night terrors.
During a swimming lesson at Glasgow Club Bellahouston on Sunday night, it’s claimed the manager left kids “wet and cold” after removing their clothes from the changing room cubicles.
Pollok parent Laura Cassels, 33, who has taken her two young children to lessons at the centre many times before, told the Evening Times that the incident was upsetting and easily avoidable.
She said: “When we arrived the kids got changed into their swimwear as usual, and then left their clothes all set up nicely in the cubicle.
“Although there are plenty of lockers available, everyone does this as there are only a few swimming lessons held on a Sunday evening and there are always plenty of empty cubicles.”
Laura met her kids at the poolside with their towels, but by the time they got back to the changing room the manager had bagged up everyone’s clothing in the cubicles and stored them behind the reception desk.
Laura said: “Kids were left freezing in their swimwear and parents had to stand in a queue at reception to get their things back.”
Laura claims that when she picked up her kids’ towels, the manager was cleaning up the changing room but did not warn her to move the clothes.
Laura added: “There was no warning and I never saw any signs. The kids who were left waiting on towels were wet and cold.
“When I voiced my displeasure at this, the manager stated that she assumed everyone knew that lockers were to be used at all times, so it was our own fault.
“I pointed out that she could have put out an announcement for all parents to go back and move the clothes from the cubicles, or informed us as we left that from now on lockers needed to be used. I feel very upset.”
Laura explained that her son is autistic and any sudden changes to his routine can cause him to have trouble associating positively with that activity or place in the future.
She said: “He didn’t react in terms of a meltdown, but he was very frightened at the change in routine and was confused as to what was going on. I had to leave him standing with his sister while I went to reception to sort this out, further upsetting him. He now is scared to go back to swimming lessons and had night terrors all night as a result of how unsettled he was feeling.”
In response to the incident, a spokeswoman for Glasgow Life stated: “We have received several complaints regarding clothes and personal belongings being left in cubicles during swimming lessons meaning other customers cannot access cubicles, including family changing facilities.
“Signs are displayed which ask customers to store their belongings in refundable lockers provided. In order to make sure our changing village is accessible for all, any items which are not stored in lockers will be removed from cubicles and held at reception.”