ALTHOUGH thousands flocked to Fort Regent’s usually barren East Ditch recently for the two-day Wonky Festival, the event will not be able to be held there for a while as the site undergoes planned refurbishment, the government has confirmed.
The festival’s main organiser JP Anquetil said that it was disappointing that the space would be unavailable but that he was working to secure an alternative venue following the success of this year’s event.
A spokesperson for the Infrastructure and Environment Department said, on behalf of the Jersey Development Company, that subject to planning approval the East Ditch will be developed and therefore not available for a ‘meanwhile use’ during the redevelopment.
The JDC added that upon planning consent, responsibility for the entire area will go to the main contractor – which has yet to be announced – with construction due to commence in the first quarter of 2026.
Subject to approvals, works are due to be completed by the end of 2028.
Mr Anquetil expected the news that the East Ditch location would no longer be available. However, he called for more public support for events that attract and retain younger audiences.
Already arranging for a backup venue for next year’s festival, he said that no meanwhile use availability for the site is “disappointing as it’s great to see the space used,” and that, without it, it exposes a lack of capability or support to put on events around the Island more widely.
Mr Anquetil said that his event, and those similar, can be put on for “a fraction of the cost” of traditional occasions such as the Battle of Flowers – an event that has received almost £300,000 of government grants in the last twelve months.
“Money is getting thrown at that [Battle], and it was fantastic this year, but events like ours have got scope to expand and advertise the Island,” Mr Anquetil said.
“I personally would welcome some support [for the event]. We would quite like a home and it would be money well spent I think. This event shows that we can do a really world-class event. It’s more relevant to young people, which is really important at the moment.”
Mr Anquetil explained that although St Helier was “very supportive” of events, he’d like to see more rural parishes cooperate more with event organisers – most of whom do not organise them for profit, he added.
“I’d like people to give us a bit of support because we do it as a passion project,” he said. “We [Wonky organisers] all have full-time jobs and so we don’t make a penny out of the festival. We do it almost as a public service because we love it,” he said. “We can only continue doing [the festival] like this with a bit of help.”
