QUESTIONS remain over whether there is sufficient demand to justify restoring the Victoria Marine Lake with taxpayers’ money, ministers have said.
A petition calling on the government to restore and maintain the pool in St Aubin’s Bay received more than 1,400 signatures – prompting a ministerial response.
The government response detailed how the 128-year-old pool had already seen a £315,000 investment in 2014, and problems had persisted despite the investment meaning “careful consideration” needs to be given as to whether restoration would be “an effective and efficient use of public funds”.
The petition, which gathered 1,418 signatures, was lodged by Nina Zaech who launched the “Save Our Pool Working Group”. Its ambitions have been supported by St Helier Deputy Inna Gardiner.
Ms Zaech detailed how the pool should be saved due to its “significant historical and cultural importance” to the Island.
However, although agreeing with the sentiment, ministers said that considering the lack of success following the 2014 repairs, “the risk and probable likelihood that the same issues that resulted in low use of the Marine Lake would arise again”.
They added that a “major issue” at the pool a decade ago was the existence of sea lettuce, and “this is a factor that remains present in St Aubin’s Bay today”.
The response also referenced the “significant investments” that have been made to the Havre des Pas Lido, “which is a short distance from West Park”.
According to the statement, Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan is “open to discussions regarding the future of the Marine Lake” and would welcome interest from external parties to operate or co-invest in the structure.
It added that a commitment has been made to make the pool safe in the “short-term”, and enquiries have been made as to the potential to lower the wall in the areas where it is damaged, although “initial discussions have indicated, however, that any such work would be of a similar cost to a full renovation”.
“The Marine Lake is a historic site,” ministers said, “but it is questionable as to whether there is sufficient demand in 2025 that would justify the hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money that would be needed to restore and maintain it on an ongoing basis.”
Mr Jehan is due to attend a public meeting about the Victoria Marine Lake at the Old Magistrate’s Court in the Town Hall on Friday 5 September.
