Emergency repairs will start on marine pool

The marine bathing pool has been closed for two years because sluice gates are open

Emergency repairs are to be carried out on a historic marine pool in Jersey to deal with safety concerns, including "potential rip tides and whirlpools" caused by variations in tides through openings in the wall, the government has said.

The 128-year-old Victoria Marine Lake on St Helier's waterfront has been closed since 2023 because of a breach in the sea wall.

The government's landlord for public land and buildings, Jersey Property Holdings, said preliminary work would get under way before winter.

JPH said full repairs were planned for spring 2026, if funds were allocated, and there would be a "comprehensive assessment" with the specialist who reviewed the pool in 2011 and 2016.

The sea pool was built in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and is one of the largest of its kind in the British Isles

The move follows a petition signed by more than 1,500 people calling for the pool to be restored and maintained.

In its response, the government said a £315,000 repair project in 2014 was "largely unsuccessful" because of sea lettuce in St Aubin's Bay.

It said it would have to consider if there was "sufficient demand" to justify spending public money on restoration and maintenance, and made a commitment to make the pool safe.

Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan heard from campaigners at a public meeting in September.

JPH said it would put out a tender for full repairs.

It added that would also issue a call-out for expressions of interest into operating the pool.

It added: "Due to the overall poor condition of the wall itself, the pool will remain signposted to warn the public of the danger of swimming, as we cannot guarantee that no further openings will occur at this stage."