JERSEY’S first pop-up sauna has been “left in the dark” amid threats of relocation which the owner claims could “destroy” his business.
Cole McLean founded the Sauna Society in July with the aim of setting up an array of outdoor “pop-up” saunas across the Island.
Speaking of his love of saunas, he explained: “It has huge benefits on my physical and mental wellbeing.
“It’s like a high. You feel so good.”
Originally based in St Ouen’s Bay, Mr McLean’s pop-up sauna relocated to St Catherine’s Bay two weeks ago for the winter months.
This followed help from the Ports of Jersey in finding a new spot in the east of the Island.
The new location at the top of St Catherine’s slipway was chosen because it was out of the way of boats approaching the pier and was “hardly ever used”, Mr McLean explained.
The Sauna Society founder said: “I paid Ports the licensing fee until the end of March, agreed and signed terms and conditions, submitted my planning application and paid the fee for a P4 moveable structure to the Planning Department.
“All of our customers have highlighted how fantastic our new spot is and that they are so happy where it is currently.
“This spot really has an amazing view, with close proximity to the sea and highlighting the very best of what Jersey has to offer.”
However, just two weeks after moving to the new location, Mr McLean was informed by Ports that the sauna had to relocate, he said “without a clear explanation”.
In response to queries by the JEP, Ports stated that the spot in question was government land, meaning that a new planning application would be required.
However, Mr McLean said that moving would “destroy [his] future revenue, and make it difficult to make enough revenue to keep everything going”.
He said: “I have been completely left in the dark, having gone through all the correct procedures and protocols of which I was aware, and now I am being told I am having my business pulled from underneath me.”
Mr McLean said alternative locations offered by Ports in St Catherine’s were unsuitable.
“I don’t have access to running water down there at all and they want to put me along the breakwater on the clay-type ground, which would further damage the inside of my sauna from people bringing it in on their feet,” he said.
The Sauna Society owner continued: “My customers, some of whom are fairly elderly, would have to walk through a busy car park dodging traffic in order to get down to the slipway for a sea swim, which completely ruins the novelty of what we are aiming to do.”
Mr McLean is now hoping to get in touch with the relevant government officials, exploring options like remaining in the current location, getting the permit fee he has already paid refunded, or potentially transferring the permit to the government.
