Deputy Hugh Raymond, who is the chairman of the centre’s political steering group, spoke out after Senator Kristina Moore mentioned the figure in the States this week.
He added that due to the financial impact of the pandemic, the government would not be able to spend such an amount on the historic site.
‘I was very surprised when it was mentioned in the Assembly. I have not been in any discussions where that sort of amount of money has ever been discussed. Money has never been mentioned,’ Deputy Raymond said.
‘I do not think that the States at the present time can afford to put that amount of money into Fort Regent. Any development now will have to be dealt with by the private sector and private individuals in Jersey – I think that would be the route we need to go down.
‘That has upset some politicians who say we should retain total ownership of the Fort, but we are never going to sell it. It is always going to be in our hands but on a leasehold basis. I would be delighted to see a commercial operation in there subject
to approval by the States.’
Deputy Raymond added that details of the latest ideas to rejuvenate the Fort could be released by the end of next month.
He said that although he was not able to disclose any details, he thought the centre would serve as an events venue.
‘The one fundamental thing is that if you take the Fort away, then you end up with the RJAHS as the only place to put on large-scale events. Their attendance inside is very limited, so the rest goes under canvas.
‘So Fort Regent is an ideal place where we can have an auditorium – with the Jersey Symphony Orchestra with 1,500 people watching – and we can have comedians and those sorts of people coming over,’ he said. ‘The days of people coming to Jersey for a 14-day holiday are gone. Forget it. It is never going to come back. Therefore you have got to look at
ways of making people want to come.
‘I would rather let the Fort for £1 each year for ten years if it means that somebody will redevelop it for the benefit of the Island, because – everyone knows as well as I do – we have not got the money to do it. So let’s be reasonable about it.’
