Centre bans race row men

Staff told men to get dressed and leave jacuzzi

Two men said to have objected to sharing a spa bath at a public leisure centre with four Asian customers, have been banned from the premises.

Staff say the men made racist remarks at the Nova Leisure Centre, in Prestatyn, north Wales.

The pair were given a refund and asked to leave.

Ian Eldred, chief executive of the Clwyd Leisure Trust, which runs the centre said: "These two were causing a bit of a scene and were expressing bigoted and racist views.

"The staff were dealing with difficult people and the manager Mike Summersgill took the view that they were better off the premises.

"They were giving a refund and were sent packing. What they said goes against everybody's sensibilities"

Mr Eldred added that the Asian customers were unaware of the remarks and staff had been anxious to protect them from distress,

The centre, which has a fitness suite, pool, entertainment complex, and bar and restaurant facilities, has a turnover of around 500,000 customers per year.

Denbighshire County council transferred the centre to Clwyd Leisure Trust in 1987 to be run on a non-profit-making basis through customer revenue and an annual council grant.

Mr Eldred said that he was unaware of any similar incidents since the trust had taken over the running of the centre.

Preventing discrimination

The Commission for Racial Equality said that the amended Race Relations Act gave public authorities a new statutory duty to promote race equality.

A spokeswoman said: "Councils should have a race equality scheme which shows due regard to providing good relationships with a clear statement of intent displayed outside a building."

She added that in places like the Nova centre, there should be positive initiatives to encourage people from ethnic minorities to use them.

Councillor Neville Hugh-Jones is chairman of Denbighshire County council's lifelong learning and leisure committee who have responsibility for the leisure centre.

He said: "I completely agree with the actions the manager of the Nova took, and in fact went down to the centre to congratulate him.

"The council makes sure that it confirms with all the necessary legislation on preventing race discrimination."