Plan B Forum

A breast-feeding mother has been ordered out of council offices after staff said it would 'cause an uproar' among Muslim visitors, it has been claimed.

Emma Mitchell, 32, was about to feed her 19-week-old son, Aaron, when a receptionist at Oldham Civic Centre told her it was a 'multicultural building'.

When she was told to use the toilets of a nearby shopping centre she argued with a manager before being offered an empty room under supervision.


Ms Mitchell, a carer who is currently on maternity leave, said: 'It was just awful. I felt humiliated, intimidated and guilty through the whole thing.

'We all live in Oldham and we all use this building, and I was doing what was one of the most natural things a mum can do.

'If someone from another culture started praying in the waiting room, I wouldn't say, "Excuse me, you're offending me" I would respect it because it's their culture.

'So I shouldn't be made to feel what I wanted to do was wrong just because it's not in their culture.

Labour Councillor Shoab Akhtar said Oldham Council supports the right of mothers to breastfeed their children and actively supports it due to the long-term health benefits it provides.

But he added: 'Unfortunately there are no breast-feeding facilities available at Access Oldham based at the Civic Centre nor are there any public toilets or baby changing facilities.

'There is no requirement to provide such facilities at Access Oldham and we are committed to make the best use of the limited space that is available to provide facilities and meeting rooms where we can deal with issues that affect local residents quickly and effectively.

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