Government made losses of £5m running Fort Regent

The centre is set to shut in December for a revamp

The Government of Jersey made a loss of £5m running Fort Regent over the past five years, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

Government officials said the losses in running the 19th Century fort and leisure centre on Mont de la Ville in St Helier occurred between 2020 and 2025 and were compounded by the Covid pandemic.

There was a period of closures at the fort in the pandemic during which staff were kept on full pay.

There are currently plans to close the centre for a £110m redevelopment.

'Discounted memberships'

Staff costs during the pandemic came to £1.2m per year while income dropped due to discounted memberships and refunds.

Officials said the site reopened in 2022 with income rising to more than £1.1m.

Staff costs also fell to £702,503 because the opening hours reduced.

In 2023 income dropped to £379,058 because gym and fitness services moved to Springfield but the centre still cost the government almost £900,000 in running costs.

In 2025 the centre is expected to cost more than £600,000.