The iconic venue was forced to cancel five major events after issues with smoke detection, emergency exits and lighting were found. So far £50,000 has been spent remedying issues with that cost likely to rise as work continues.
And meanwhile, Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham has announced that a new steering group charged with deciding the future of the venue is considering turning it into a commercial conference and entertainment space complete with a ‘50-metre Olympic swimming pool’. The minister added that plans could soon be brought to the States.
Assistant Economic Development Minister Steve Pallett has also announced that he has quit as leader of the steering group – a role he held for two-and-a-half years – saying he feels ‘I have taken it as far as I can’. It is now being headed up by Chief Minister John Le Fondré.
Addressing costs of emergency work, a States spokeswoman said: ‘Since the fire risk report was submitted, around £50,000 has been spent ensuring that the Fort’s day-to-day operations can continue safely. The costs have covered the independent fire safety inspector’s key recommendations, and ensured that the thousands of Islanders who use the Fort each week can continue to do so.’
The Fort’s capacity is to be limited to 1,170 even after work is completed. Previously the Gloucester Hall alone held almost 2,000.
Addressing the Economic and International Scrutiny Panel hearing on Friday, Senator Farnham said of the long-term future of Fort Regent: ‘Generally speaking, the momentum is behind building on the Fort’s history. The Fort has worked relatively well for Islanders so there is a recognition that the historic aspects of the Fort need to be rejuvenated, the Fort is in the middle of St Helier so there is a huge amount of gardens potentially for St Helier. There is a huge space under the dome and there will be areas where there could be a multi-functional, commercial conference events entertainment space.
‘I still think we need a 50-metre Olympic swimming pool and that could be part of the plan, there’s an opportunity for a hotel and then of course there is improving the access.’
Senator Farnham added that the Island may need to sell some of its under-utilised assets to fund future projects to improve the Island’s infrastructure.
‘The idea is outside the annual budgeting process we need to create a large infrastructure fund and we can raise money from better leveraging of the States assets which are under-utilised at the moment and that will create a sizeable fund,’ he said.
‘It is about how we want to maintain the Island’s Infrastructure. Do we want to continue to try and do it out of our annual income or do we want to look at our overall wealth and use some of that?
‘I think cash is king and I am nervous about borrowing too much.
‘But if it is to invest in the public realm for future generations and improve economic performance, it is more of an investment than a cost.’
