Ambitious plans to give the old swimming pool building at Jersey’s Fort Regent a new lease of life have been revealed.
A group called Fort Adventure Centre have unveiled their proposals, which include an American-themed diner, under-cover go kart track and skate park, as well as a climbing wall and a 40-car drive-in cinema.
Those behind the multi-million pound project have made them public to gather views before submitting a formal planning application.
Initial reaction has been broadly positive. Here’s a flavour of the comments posted so far:
Karl Lelliott said: “I’ve been saying the Fort would be the best place for a kart track for about 15 years. If not the field, then an outside track within the walls. It could be a winner.”
While Daniel Bautenbach added: “An indoor skatepark is definitely the thing we need as there is nowhere to ride when its raining, and we all know it rains a lot in the winter. Plus even when it’s nice and sunny, the park we have now is nothing compared to what people have in places like Guernsey.”
Though Sarah Woodman notes a sound of caution: “It would be fantastic if they pulled it off but past history tells us that it will cost the tax ayer millions in consultants and then planning would be found wanting and then the whole thing will be shelved in favour of building new offices.”
And others questioned whether there was a covenant on the sloping field preventing development.
It follows years of consultations and suggestions from government about how to give Fort Regent a new lease of life, though this proposal is specifically about the old swimming pool which the States recently confirmed would cost £3.5million to demolish. A planning application, on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure, is due to be considered by a planning panel later this month.
While previously considering their own regeneration plans, politicians have made it apparent they would welcome investment from the private sector.
