Transgender bathers have today been given full access to use Hampstead Heath's iconic Ladies' Pond following a controversial consultation.
The City of London Corporation has officially adopted a new gender identity policy which means anyone can access the female facilities if they identity as a woman.
But the plans for one of the country's most iconic outdoor ladies-only swimming pools have been met with a backlash from some campaigners.
Others have questioned why the council gave the motion a green light despite disregarding nearly 19,000, or 46 per cent, of responses to its equality survey.
The City of London Corporation has officially adopted a new gender identity policy which means anyone can use Hampstead Heath's Ladies' Pond is they identify as female
Members of 'Man Friday' last year disrupted the men-only bathing session at Hampstead Heath Pools in a protest over the incoming gender rule
The pond is used by celebrities including Kate Moss, Helena Bonham-Carter and Emma Thompson, comedian Rhona Cameron and author Esther Freud.
The policy - which has been welcomed by the Kenwood Ladies' Pond Association (KLPA) - comes after an online survey consultation on attitudes to gender identity received nearly 40,000 responses.
But 18,459 were disregarded as invalid on the basis that those respondents did not answer any questions other than to identify themselves and declare the reason for their interest in the survey.
The survey, undertaken by the City Corporation, showed 58 per cent of the remaining 21,000 respondents agreed that trans people should be able to access services relating to their gender identity.
In total, around 18,459 votes were thrown out, 12,390 were in favour of transgenders, and 8,610 were against.
The council said the move will ensure a 'robust and consistent approach' to gender identity.
But some women have expressed concern the policy will put their safety at risk in female-only spaces.
One woman said in response to the survey: 'This is opening-up opportunities and safe spaces for women to any man who claims to self-ID as a woman.
'Statistics show that women are at risk of male violence.
'This includes genuine transwomen - these transwomen with GRC and cis women need safe places and not to have misogynistic self-ID advocates trying to erode their rights and safe spaces.'
One Muslim swimmer said she could no longer use the pond, and another activist argued it would 'open up safe spaces to any man who claims to self identify as a woman.'
Last year activists staged a demonstration at the Men's Pond on Hampstead Heath, dressing as men to make their point
One Muslim woman said she would no longer be able to use a woman only pool or changing room.
She said: 'I will no longer be able to use women only pool and changing area if men are allowed in.
'My nieces are not allowed to be uncovered around
