Move to get a full size inflatable pool for Alderney

Monday, 16 March 2026 10:20

Alderney man Paul Clark says the three lane pool is ready for a summer home.

Since 2014 the ambition for Alderney is to have a decent length pool for beginners and school children to learn and practise in.

Significant money was raised by public donation and States match funding, some £500,000, but despite twelve years going by and a pool building being built adjacent to the school, a usable pool is still a dream.

Work started in 2014 but fizzled out, incomplete, three years later.

Paul Clark says this has led to islanders missing out on a vital life skill:

"A whole generation hasn't been able to learn in a swimming pool.

"It's really critical that we get our young people learning to swim in a fresh water environment.

"They're being taught very well in wet suits in the sea but there is no better environment than a swimming pool to learn really good technique and become strong swimmers."

He has come up with a temporary solution which is a large, fold away portable pool that has been on Alderney since 2024 while a location is sought:

"It's 25m so it's the same length as Beau Sejour and has three lanes so it's half the width of Beau Sejour."

"Pregnant mums to members of our community who are 100 will be able to use it, it'll be for everyone."

Paul Clark has used social media to search for space to rig up the pool for the summer and is hopeful that later today (Monday 16) he is can cement the land deal.

If so, the ambition is to train up swimming teachers and lifeguards and open the pool on 1 May until September.

Paul says "everybody wants it to happen."