A LONG-STANDING Jurat has been confirmed as the independent arbiter for a review into the tender process for the operation of Havre des Pas Lido.
The review was initiated by Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan last week following a meeting with one of the bidders, Love Our Lido.
Having initially been named as a preferred bidder, Love Our Lido had this status revoked when negotiations with the government broke down, with a decision then taken to awards the contract to rival bidder first Point Lido.
Mr Jehan said that the review would consider questions raised over the process.
A proposition from Deputy David Warr calling for the government to reverse the decision is set to be debated in the States Assembly next week.
Deputy Warr said he was encouraged to learn that the review was underway and being led by Anthony Olsen, who has served as a Jurat in the Royal Court since 2011 and was awarded the MBE for honorary service to the Royal Court in 2022.
“I know the terms of reference for the review have been agreed, but beyond that it’s important that the process runs it course,” he said.
“It’s a very tight time-frame, and I would hope there would be some public comment on the outcome by the first day of the Assembly meeting next week.”
The St Helier South representative said his biggest concern was around the current management of the site, with Jersey Property Holdings having served notice that the current tenant must vacate the site by 24 December.
“At the moment the business can’t take any bookings beyond Christmas and that’s something that needs to be resolved very rapidly,” he said.
Regular users of the historic bathing pool were among those who took part in a public protest in the Royal Square last week, calling for States Members to support Deputy Warr’s proposition and restore Love Our Lido as preferred bidder.
