Contractor fears outdated tradition puts off women visiting sites

It seems the ubiquitous building site wolf whistles may become a thing of the past.

Leading construction firm George Wimpey announced today that it was to ban its workers from wolf whistling over fears the 鈥渙utdated tradition鈥� could put women off visiting their sites in search of property.

Sales and marketing director Richard Goad said he made the decision following a conversation with a female friend who had been whistled at by builders while visiting another site.

鈥淪he said it made her feel uncomfortable and embarrassed,鈥� said Mr Goad. 鈥淚 know lots of women don鈥檛 mind it 鈥� my wife is thrilled if she gets a whistle, and she鈥檚 not happy about me bringing this measure in 鈥� but it does make many women feel uncomfortable.

"If you went into a car showroom, you wouldn鈥檛 expect to be whistled at or to have that kind of attention directed at you, - why should you when looking at a new home?鈥�

The edict was issued to workmen in the Bristol area at nine am this morning, and has been received well according to Goad. 鈥淭hey have been angered in the past by wolf whistles at their partners, so they understand why we have introduced this measure,鈥� he said.

This is not another example of political correctness gone mad, however, insists Goad. 鈥淚t is not a case of being PC鈥�, he said. 鈥淲e are simply trying to look at the overall picture - we are selling homes, we鈥檙e a shop in effect, our building sites are our shop windows 鈥� it doesn鈥檛 do to make people feel uncomfortable when you鈥檙e trying to sell something.鈥�

The ban comes just days before the launch of George Wimpey鈥檚 Meridian housing development in Bristol at the Aztec Hotel on Saturday.

It has been introduced into six George Wimpey sites in Bristol but Mr Goad has confirmed that due to its positive reception, the ban was likely to soon be extended nationwide.

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