Fort Regent: Campaigners invite Jersey politicians to inspect building

Sports Minister Lucy Stephenson said Fort Regent was not "safe and suitable"

Jersey politicians have been invited to visit Fort Regent as a campaign group steps up its efforts to keep sports clubs and events at the leisure centre.

Friends of Fort Regent met Sports Minister Lucy Stephenson on Tuesday to explain why it launched a petition.

More than 2,100 people have signed the petition calling for a review of the decision to remove sports facilities from Fort Regent.

The minister said she would continue to consult with all campaigners.

The government said clubs were to move to improved facilities at Oakfield and Springfield, while plans to regenerate Fort Regent were put on hold for financial reasons.

Campaigners argue Fort Regent is the most suitable site for sports clubs.

The group invited States members to visit Fort Regent to see the potential to keep sports clubs and events there.

Roy Travert, from Friends of Fort Regent, said: "This government's policy... is to remove all of the facilities from Fort Regent, with perhaps some sports staying but the gym is going."

Deputy Stephenson said she would continue to consider community views on the site.

"I've said I would engage with them going forward, as we should do," she said.

"While we've got this opportunity, while we're taking a moment to consider the way forward on Fort Regent, I think it's really important we engage not just with the Friends of Fort Regent, but all islanders, and sports, and more widely as well."

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