THE whole of the Havre des Pas swimming pool is now classed as licenses premises – giving the operator and police more powers to stamp out antisocial behaviour at the seaside venue.
Previously, just the inside, roof and balcony of the Lido venue overlooking the tidal pool was covered by the Island’s licensing law, but this has been extended to its full 87,000 m2, including the promenade on stilts which connects the attraction to the main road.
Under the licensing law, the licensee – in this case, First Point Property Services which trades as Lido Jersey – or any employee or agent can “refuse to admit or any person who is drunk, under the influence of drugs, violent or disorderly”.
A police officer must also assist when requested to by the licensee.
First Point Lido director Jason Maindonald told a recent meeting of the Havre des Pas Improvement Group at the Lido that the extra powers would help stamp out any disorder or unruly behaviour at the tidal pool.
Antisocial behaviour and vandalism are perennial problems at the Lido, with fire-lighting, graffiti and assault being the focus of police investigations in the past. Concerns are also frequently raised by nearby residents at Improvement Group meetings.
“Extending the licence to the whole site gives us more power to stop such things as under-age drinking,” said Mr Maindonald. “It also means that people can be legally excluded from the where the promenade meets the road.”
However, Mr Maindonald said that although the licence meant that, technically, people could not bring their own alcohol in the Lido, he would not be asking people responsibly enjoying a drink to leave.
He added that signs would soon be going up to share the site’s alcohol policy.
In related news, Mr Maindonald confirmed the dates of this year’s Havre des Pas Seaside Festival as 25-26 July.
He added that the sluice gates at Lido would be open from 13 July for three days in order to clean the pool before the start of the school summer holidays.
