Sections of the gym at the Fort have been closed off recently owing to concerns about asbestos contamination. It also emerged that, following a routine check, Legionella bacteria had been discovered in the showers.
Officials have confirmed that the Fort is safe to use but Islander Alan Morris, a regular user of the gym, said that customers and lower-level staff at the Fort have not been properly informed or kept up-to-date on the two matters, or told when the closed-off sections will be reopened.
A States spokeswoman said that Fort Regent users were ‘informed immediately’ when asbestos was discovered and the relevant areas were closed.
She added that the Legionella tests were carried out as a ‘routine safety procedure’ on a water source that had been unused for a while before the showers were reopened to the public.
‘The test results showed the presence of a low-risk strain of Legionella, so the area remains closed while the system is chlorinated and retested,’ she said.
‘As the showers were not open to the public at the time – and therefore there was no risk of anyone coming into contact with the affected water – the test results were not announced.
‘Fort users will be updated weekly about the progress with the remedial work, and these updates will be made public at active.je.’
She added that gym equipment that has been relocated from the closed-off areas is safe for use, and closed-off areas are safe for staff to enter.
‘The asbestos is being managed in accordance with the States’ asbestos management plan, which is in line with current legislation, and includes regular visual inspections,’ she said.
The spokeswoman did not advise whether use of the Fort has declined in recent months, as suggested by Mr Morris.
