Diving board removal paused to explore options

The protest was held to show the public's "strength of feeling" for the board, Mr Sarchet said

Plans to remove the diving board from Guernsey's La Vallette Bathing Pools have been temporarily halted.

On Friday, the the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served a prohibition notice in relation to the board, following reports of incidents and near misses.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Committee for Environment and Infrastructure, said the board would "not be removed this week" as originally planned.

She said: "We have managed to work with the HSE, who have agreed to give us more time to work with members of the community to explore alternative options."

The HSE said the depth of the water under the platform fell below international standards and it should be removed.

It said the maximum depth of the water below the diving platform was 2.75m (9ft) which did not meet the 3.2m (10.5ft) minimum depth required by the World Aquatics and British Standards.

Adrian Sarchet, who is campaigning to save the platform, said the temporary halt did not mean the board staying was a done deal

Adrian Sarchet, known as the Sea Donkey, believes the board is an "iconic piece of heritage" and he started a campaign to save it.

Mr Sarchet said as a result of the meeting with De Sausmarez, there was now a "plan of action".

He said: "The first part of that plan is a short stay of execution on the removal of the diving board.

"It will not be removed next week.

"The second part of the plan is for a small committee... to try to find a solution which satisfies all stakeholders.

"It is not a done deal that the diving board will stay."

Mr Sarchet said the level of public engagement on the matter had "opened up opportunities worth exploring that simply weren't there before".

The diving board has been described as "iconic" by campaigners

Hundreds of islanders turned out on Sunday morning to demonstrate the public's "strength of feeling" about keeping the diving board.

Mr Sarchet described the gathering as "a groundswell of public love of something which is an icon in Guernsey, something which goes to the heart of being a Guernsey person".

'Really pragmatic'

De Sausmarez said the prohibition notice had not been a political decision.

She said: "We do still have to remain realistic, the prohibition notice is still in place, we are still legally required to comply, however, the HSE have been really pragmatic and they have given us a few more weeks to look into these different avenues."

De Sausmarez praised Mr Sarchet and also Mark Torode, who also campaigned to halt plans to remove the board.

She said: "I'm just so grateful they they are able and willing to give us their help, support, and expertise.

"They're both very clever people, and I know that they will also involve other people with relevant expertise as well."