Jersey’s vital sports clubs deserve a place they can make their own

It’s a place which older Islanders will probably remember fondly, with different generations each reminiscing about the different forms of entertainment available there over the years, from the cables cars and mini golf, Quasar and Pluto’s Playtime to The Works skatepark, pool tables and the aquarium. And, of course, there is the history of the fortification dating back centuries.

But ever since it opened its doors as a leisure venue in the late 1960s/early 1970s, sport has been a major focus at Fort Regent.

Personally, I have played netball against teams from across the UK in that place, learned to swim, exercised at the gym, taken part in charity sports events and tried handball, basketball and trampolining.

There are many, many other sports clubs and organisations which call Fort Regent home too, and some of them have done so for decades.

Now all those clubs based at the centre have been told they will be contacted about finding new homes. The move is part of a new consultation by UK-based firm KKP, which is looking into the Island’s future provision of sports facilities. The clubs are being promised new homes that are as good as what they have currently or better.

And Deputy Hugh Raymond, who has political responsibility for sport, has revealed that the Fort is likely to be used more as an entertainment and cultural site in the future.

On the one hand it is positive progress that work is under way to try to sort out the Fort Regent mess once and for all – the place is hardly fit for purpose any more and needs work urgently. Let’s not forget we have been here before, though, many times…

But on the other hand, this iconic venue has been the home of many of these clubs for a long, long time. Jersey Kenpo Karate, for example, has been based there for more than 35 years and Regent Gymnastics since 1981.

It is, therefore, easy to see why many of these clubs have reacted with concern to the news that they are effectively being given notice on a home that holds many special memories dating back years.

Many of them are now saying that they do not want to leave and have called on the government to use any money it invests in the ageing facility to make it a world-class sporting venue.

At some stage, decisions do need to be made because this issue has been allowed to stagnate for too long.

Sports clubs have also been told they will be looked after and not just turfed out on to the streets.

However, it is difficult to believe this commitment at the moment when there appears to be few other options out there for them.

You only have to look at the debacle surrounding finding a new home for netball to see that this is the case. That sport – in normal times played by hundreds, if not thousands, of women and girls every week – is now enjoying an extended reprieve at Les Ormes until 2023, but still requires a permanent home in the future.

And these clubs don’t want to be shoved from pillar to post in school gyms and community centres – they want places to settle and make their own.

It is easy to understand the concerns raised by those who will be affected.

Springfield and the Waterfront have both been mooted as possible new homes for some of the public facilities, such as the gym and Active Jersey, but is a new purpose-built home for sport going to be needed to sufficiently accommodate the needs of others?

It is clear there is some kind of wider plan here; the public just don’t necessarily know the details yet.

Deputy Raymond has sought to assure people that moving sports clubs is part of a broader long-term strategy for sport in the Island and not just about getting them out of the way.

He also says an ‘exciting’ announcement about the Fort is due to be made in March. Only time will tell if that will actually lead to any kind of progress – as I say, we have been here before.

That said, this could be the start of something really positive not only for Fort Regent but for Jersey.

As the ongoing skatepark saga shows, it will certainly not all be plain sailing, even if those behind the plans have the best of intentions.

We just have to make sure that sports clubs – as one of the main stakeholders to be affected – feel informed, consulted with and looked after at every stage of the journey.

For more comment and opinion pieces, see today’s Jersey Evening Post.

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