Minister to attend public meeting on bathing pool

Jersey's infrastructure minister will attend a meeting to discuss the future of the Victoria bathing pool

Jersey's infrastructure minister will attend a public meeting to hear views on restoring the marine lake bathing pool in St Helier.

Constable Andy Jehan recently said repairs to the 128-year-old marine lake were "uneconomical" but committed in the States Assembly to discussing the issue with the public.

Deputy Inna Gardiner, who represents St Helier North, has organised the meeting and said it would help inform people on the cost and timeline of any repairs.

The meeting will take place on 5 September at the magistrates' court in St Helier.

The sea pool, built in 1897, is one of the largest of its kind in the British Isles, but it has been unusable since 2023 due to its sluice gates remaining open.

The infrastructure minister has cast doubt on the lake's future as he recently labelled it a "diminishing requirement".

Constable Jehan said: "Contractors were approached to determine costs for repair work.

"The order of magnitude of the costs were deemed to be uneconomical to commission, particularly in light of the fact that the assistant minister reported that when the parish had a lease on the lake, use was very limited due to the proliferation of sea lettuce."

However, a petition to restore the lake has been signed by more than 1,300 people meaning the minister will need to respond it.

Deputy Inna Gardiner said she was looking forward to the public meeting in September

Deputy Gardiner said the fact so many people had signed the petition showed that they care about restoring the marine lake.

She said: "The evidence we need to be presented with is how much it will cost, how long it will take and what's the maintenance, and that's why I'm looking forward to the public meeting with the minister.

"He promised he will meet with the public."

Perry Garrod said the bathing pool is part of Jersey's history

Perry Garrod, who is part of a campaign group that is trying to save the marine lake, said it is "a piece of Jersey's history".

"It's only now because of a lack of repair that we are seeing it fall into disrepair," he said.

"This has been around for 130 years and has been used for 124 years, isn't that worth preserving? And it's a piece of history.

"Government needs to be open about what they think needs to be repaired. What we need in any government is transparency."