The Fort is used by thousands of people

From Madeline Bates.

WHY is it that people who obviously do not use the facilities at Fort Regent want to get rid of it?

We have an excellent sports and recreation complex, used by thousands of Islanders, yet every now and then, someone who has no interest in it, suggests we demolish it and build flats or some suchlike. Why not plough the money back into revitalising the Fort, thus turning it into a number one tourist attraction?

I’ll tell you why – because the States don’t want tourists here, they want rich residents instead. Better for the Finance Industry, you see. Removing the cable cars was a big ‘deliberate’ mistake. This made the Fort inaccessible for families with small children, whose only alternative was to trudge up Pier Road in order to reach it.

The swimming pool was probably the number one attraction, but of course that had to go, otherwise no-one would have used the newly built Aqua Splash pool at the Waterfront.

I disagree with your reader who suggests turning it into a university. They had the opportunity to do this with the old Girls College, instead of leaving it to rot. Given that we are an Island, a Maritime College could have been a possibility.

Thousands of local people use the Fort for various activities, so either plough some dosh into revitalising it or leave it alone. How about we build luxury flats on one of the many golf courses?

Oh, silly me – they are used by members of the States aren’t they? Enough said.