Could paintball boost Island visitor numbers?

  • Popular pastime could attract visitors
  • Businessman Hugh Jones is searching for an appropriate site
  • Interest expressed in a Jersey paintball arena by a south-west league in England

A PAINTBALL arena could bring thousands of visitors to Jersey if a venue can be found, says a local businessman.

Former police officer Hugh Jones wants to open a paintball business in the Island and would pay monthly rents to a willing landlord for use of a site.

‘I have been in contact with a paintball league in the south-west of England, who said they would get 100 to 300 people wanting to come over to play each week,’ he said.

‘It could be a very successful business and good for tourism.’

Businessman Hugh Jones wants to develop a large paintball arena in the IslandTraditionally, being hit by a paint pellet anywhere on the body or on your gun means you must leave the playing arena until a new round begins

Mr Jones says he has created a business model but needs to find the right location, which would have to be an out-of-use enclosed area, about the size of a football pitch, preferably within woodland but without too much wildlife.

‘There are plenty of areas in Jersey which are suitable but it’s often difficult to find out who owns the land,’ he added.

‘The other problem is people are concerned about the impact paintball will have on an area, but it’s not as noisy or disruptive as they think.’

‘We would offer woodland management and there is little environmental impact – the paintballs naturally decompose.’

Mr Jones’s plans for a paintball site in woodland near the Jersey War Tunnels were rejected in 2013.

Anyone who can help Mr Jones to find a suitable location can contact him on 07797 851825.

A paintball player dives for cover

  • Paintball can be played in teams or individually
  • There are different types of paintball games, but traditionally the object is to shoot opposing players in order to knock them out of the round until none remains
  • Pellets contain a non-toxic, biodegradable, water-soluble dye
  • It is thought that paintball was first played in 1981 in America. It has since grown to become a hugely popular competitive, worldwide sport
  • While the game is safely enjoyed by youngsters and adults alike, participants risk bruises as pellets typically travel at around 200 mph
  • Players must wear protective headgear
  • Paintball guns use pressurised gas canisters to shoot pellets

A player returns fire from a sheltered positionBusinessman Hugh Jones previously applied to create a paintballing arena in woods near the Jersey War Tunnels

PREVIOUSLY paintballing was available in Trinity and games are still offered at the Creepy Valley Adventure Centre in St Brelade.

However, Mr Jones believes there is scope for more playing space in the Island, and that building a new, larger paintball arena could boost tourism by attracting players to Jersey.

It is not the first time that the businessman has suggested the move. In 2013 he submitted a planning application to create a paintball arena in woodlands close to the Jersey War Tunnels.

Several Islanders opposed the plans, raising concerns over the effect the sport could have on the environment and the wildlife in the area.

Mr Jones’ plans were narrowly rejected by the Planning Applications Committee, but panel member, and then Trinity Constable, John Le Sueur Gallichan, went on to urge the Planning Department to help identify land where the sport could be played.

And it seems that paintballing in Jersey was causing controversy as far back as the late 1980s. The below extract is taken from a JEP report from 1989.

It said: ‘FIREARMS dealers Newton and Newton have hit out at the Defence Committee for trying to put a stop to ‘Paintball Pursuit’, a war-type game that is played in Rozel Woods. There has been recent controversy over the game, which is said in some quarters to promote aggressive activity. However, these accusations are refuted by Newton and Newton, who say that they will be looking very closely at what the committee decide now, and any action they take will depend on what the committee do. The firearms dealers say they will continue the games despite a directive that all players should have a pistol licence. A spokesman said: ‘All of the pistol clubs that have been operating in Jersey for the last 25 years have not had to have licences for each individual who wants to try the sport out.’

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