After the new Future Fort strategy was unveiled by ministers this week, Senator Steve Pallett said there were no fresh ideas for the landmark St Helier site, leaving him ‘deeply disappointed’.
Confirmation that a casino was among the features being considered has also sparked concern from the leader of the Island’s Methodist Church, the Reverend Dawn Saunders.
Chief Minister John Le Fondré, who took on personal responsibility for redeveloping the leisure centre in 2019, launched the Future Fort project on Monday, describing it as an ‘exciting but achievable’ plan for the site. Short-term goals outlined for the next three years include plans to complete the relocation of sporting organisations that currently use the Fort to alternative venues, the start of internal works to make the existing structure safer, external landscaping and establishing a lift or other access route from Snow Hill.
Outline concepts for longer-term features include a casino, multi-purpose venue for conferences and concerts, a hotel and a bowling alley.
Senator Pallett, who led the steering group for the Fort before stepping down in early 2019, said very little appeared to have moved forward.
He said: ‘We have come full circle – all these ideas have been mentioned before and they have just been regurgitated. The lack of progress is, at times, jaw-dropping and it looks like another political term will go past without anything being done, while the Fort just gets further and further past its sell-by date. The can is just being kicked down the road again. It is deeply disappointing and I think the public has a right to expect more.’
Senator Pallett said he was doubtful that meaningful progress would be achieved over the next 12 months before the Island’s next general election.
As part of the government’s Fiscal Stimulus Fund – designed to boost the economy in the wake of the pandemic by providing financial support to short-term projects – money has been earmarked to upgrade facilities at both Springfield Stadium and Oakfield.
Senator Pallett said: ‘The decant of sports involves improvements to other facilities like Oakfield and Springfield, where planning applications haven’t gone in; the Fort is in use as a vaccination centre until the end of the year and the timeframes are just not realistic. I am very sceptical that anything will be achieved and expect there’ll be a range of excuses including Covid and funding issues.’
A casino also formed part of previous plans for the site, but was rejected by States Members in 2005 following opposition from the Island’s Methodist community.
Mrs Saunders, who took up the role of Methodist Superintendent last autumn, said there were still reservations about the possible adverse impact of a casino.
She said: ‘The concerns we have are to do with people’s wellbeing, and what gambling can do in terms of addiction – especially among vulnerable adults. We’d have concern about anything that could become addictive and, as we come out of the Covid pandemic, I think we need to be particularly cautious about people going to excess.’
Mrs Saunders said she intended to discuss the matter with colleagues from the Methodist leadership team and consider whether they would make representations about the possibility of having a casino in the Island.
A public consultation on the Future Fort strategy is now live at gov.je.
