AN EXPLICIT website promoting gay sex in public places used by children and young families has sparked outrage in Bournemouth and Poole.
It recommends more than 50 locations in the two towns.
And far from the seedy image of grubby public toilets, many of the locations are in well-known leisure centres and attractions used by families and young children.
The website was brought to the Echo’s attention by the father of a 15-year-old boy who was propositioned when he went to the toilet at Richmond Hill car park in Bournemouth.
The boy, who does not want to be named, was asked if he was a member of the website involved.
His dad told the Echo: “When I looked into this I was completely mortified – it lists places where men hook up to engage in sexual acts in public.”
Meanwhile police say there is nothing they can do about the site because it is hosted from abroad.
The Daily Echo can reveal that changing rooms at Bournemouth’s Littledown Centre, the toilets at the former UCI at Tower Park, Fitness First in Poole and the FitSpace gym in Bournemouth are all recommended for liaisons.
Other shocking locations include Asda in Bournemouth, the Castlepoint shopping centre, Bournemouth University and Bournemouth and Poole College. Dozens of public toilets are also listed, many near children’s play areas and beaches.
The Echo has decided not to name the website involved but has looked at the site, which gives detailed information on each of the locations and pictures of many.
Visitors to the site can see each place ranked out of five and get detailed directions and advice such as the best times to meet and how to avoid getting caught.
Information on the Littledown recommends cubicles in the swimming pool changing rooms and warns against using the dry changing rooms because of the risk of being caught.
The dad of the 15-year -old said: “We owe it to our town to make it a safe place for everyone.”
Cllr Claire Smith has now called for the website to be closed down and urged parents to be on their guard.
“This is absolutely disgusting, particularly as it names toilets to meet in where there are young families around. “To have this degrading use of the facilities is extremely worrying.”
She added: “We should have confidence that we can use public toilets perfectly safely. Children often use changing rooms on their own because little boys can’t go into the ladies’ changing rooms with their mums forever.”
Cllr Smith, who used to be cabinet member for children and families on Bournemouth Council, added: “I would also like to warn anyone tempted to use these sites that they could end up propositioning a child and that is paedophilia – they will lose their homes, families and jobs.”
Each of the so-called “cruising listings” on the site has been visited by thousands of people. An open area at Southbourne Cliffs has had a staggering 101,000 views, there have been 65,700 for Meyrick Park, 76,000 for Avon Heath Country Park and 10,500 for the Littledown Centre.
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