THE current operator of the Lido has warned it could be stripped back to “a completely empty shell” if he is forced to leave at the end of the month, as political debate over the site’s future continues.
Marcus Calvani, of BeServed, also said that he and former Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet had been “extremely close” to agreeing a new lease prior to Deputy Binet’s departure from the role at the start of this year.
Management of the area recently became a political issue after concerns were raised about its condition, when negotiations floundered and the BeServed Group was told by the government to end its operations at the Lido by the end of October.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan announced on Tuesday that expressions of interest are being sought from prospective new operators, and confirmed that a formal tender process will be held at a later date.
Speaking to the JEP, Mr Calvani warned that the Lido could become “a completely empty shell” if he was forced to leave.
“If we were to vacate the site fully, as they are claiming in their statements, everything – including the dehumidification, the heating system, the full commercial kitchen and the kiosk, the works – would have to be stripped out.”
Deputy Binet yesterday told the JEP that he had tried to resolve the situation during his time as Infrastructure Minister.
“I’d agreed when I took office in 2022, that throughout the period of negotiations – to try and get everything sorted out – that there would be an amnesty on rental payments, which ended at the end of 2023.”
He explained that this was done with the intention of getting a new lease signed by the end of January this year, the terms of which he had set out himself – describing them as “exceptionally reasonable”.
But Deputy Binet resigned as Infrastructure Minister on New Year’s Day to pursue a vote of no confidence against then-Chief Minister Kristina Moore. “Of course I lost office, so it ceased to be my business – but that was the state of play at the time I departed,” he added.
“It was a straightforward proposal and if it had been signed at the time, none of this would be happening.”
Mr Calvani said that he and Deputy Binet engaged in “heated debate” over some of the terms, but had been “extremely close” to getting a deal over the line.
“If Tom and I had sat down for another half an hour it would be finished and signed.”
The site’s future is due to be debated by the States Assembly, after St Helier Deputy David Warr lodged a proposition which he hopes will help change the management of the Lido “from government oversight to a community-led charitable framework”.
This was brought forward after he revealed that work was under way to register a “Love our Lido” limited company, which will apply for charitable status and seek to take over management of the bathing pool.
Deputy Warr acknowledged that the first part of his proposition, asking the government to put the contract for the management and maintenance of the Havre des Pas Bathing Pool and Café out to tender, will no longer require a vote.
However, he confirmed that he will still seek debate on the second part, which asks that the current operator be permitted to continue to trade as normal until the tender process is completed.
“It is vital that the Lido stays open,” he said.
