Lido claims bulk of overall maintenance spend

The 135-year-old Havre des Pas has cost an average of £100,000 per year since 2021, Constable Jehan said

New figures show two-thirds of the total maintenance bill for government-owned café sites in Jersey was spent on a single facility.

Out of a total of £553,051 spent on the sites, the Havre des Pas in St Helier has had £356,000 spent on its maintenance over the past three and a half years.

In June Constable Andy Jehan, the minister for infrastructure, told the States Assembly the 135-year-old pool was "a liability" that he would like "taken off my hands".

Residents told the BBC that the bathing pool offered value beyond monetary worth.

Constable Jehan said in the last two years the bathing pool complex has not generated any rental income or money from utilities

New figures show the Greve de Lecq Café site had the second highest government maintenance spend in the same period.

This was a total of £106,819, some £250,000 less than the Havre des Pas complex.

There were 55 maintenance requests for the Havre des Pas complex over the last three and a half years.

St Aubin's Promenade Café and public toilets had the second most, with 36.

Last month Deputy David War asked Constable Jehan whether alternative organisations such as Jersey Heritage who have a "tried-and tested model" to run the Havre des Pas bathing complex could be considered.

Constable Jehan told the States Assembly: "I would be delighted to talk to any interested party who would take this liability off my hands.

"As I mentioned, we have invested on average £100,000 a year in the last three years.

"In the last two years, we have had no revenue. We have had no money for utilities and no rental income, so I would be delighted to talk to anyone."

Jayne Gruchy said the Havre des Pas was popular with a variety of people

Several residents have responded to his comments by pointing to the value they consider the historic pool provides.

Jayne Gruchy of Hooray Henri’s Beach Kiosk said: "All different ages and demographics use the pool and I think it's a real shame if they're putting a price on that."

Marcus Calvani of Lido Jersey disagreed with Constable Jehan: "I think 'liability' is a poor choice of words - the word "asset" is what they were looking for."

Considering the £100,000 spent on average in recent years, St Helier town centre manager Connor Burgher said: "That's pretty good value for money if you think what we spend money on as a government."

Cross-channel swimmer, Sally Minty-Gravett, said she felt the 135-year-old pool was an "iconic place that needs to be restored, looked after and loved".