Island sport leases frozen for three months

Island sport leases frozen for three months

Senator Steve Pallett – the politician responsible for sport in Jersey – says clubs and associations must be protected while health restrictions are in place in order to secure a quick return to stability later in the year.

Jersey Property Holdings are understood to have halted all fees for a 12-week period, which could be extended if the effects of the coronavirus pandemic reach beyond June.

‘Sport needs to play a key role in terms of recovering from this and getting back to a normal life,’ said Pallett.

‘For a lot of people, whether it’s playing or just spectating, sport is a major part of life and when you take it away you realise how much you miss it. It’s great that people have got that love of sport and long may it continue, but there is going to have to be a lot of rebuilding.’

He added: ‘I’m acutely aware of not wanting to lose clubs and associations and we have an agreement with Property Holdings that leases will be frozen for three months. It’s important that we don’t put clubs out of business because they can’t pay their lease and it’s important for Island life that we build on what we had before.

‘Sport has been good at bouncing back in the past and hopefully everyone can bounce back again after this.’

The agreement follows a call by Jersey Sport – an independent body set up to support Island clubs – for the government to offer financial assistance while all forms of training and competition are suspended.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –