Minister hopes to sign Lido lease this week

Jersey's Infrastructure Minister hopes to sign a lease this week with First Point to operate the bathing pool at Havre Des Pas, after the Love our Lido group withdrew.

The private management company is set to become the new tenants of the Lido, having initially been chosen in October despite the Love our Lido community group having 'preferred bidder' status.

There were public protests, and an independent review of the tender process concluded it was not as fair as it could have been.

In mid-December, the Infrastructure Minister announced a fresh process to choose an operator.

Constable Andy Jehan now aims to pull together a contract with First Point and submit a report to the States for members to consider.

He says it is time to look forward now.

"Hopefully, there will be some positive dialogue between the previous tenants and the prospective tenants about the goods that are in the building, and hopefully in the future, First Point and the charity will be able to work together, but I'm sure First Point will work with any community group that wants to support the bathing pools."

"Everybody has worked with good intentions.

"It's unfortunate that Love Our Lido has felt that they can't continue with the dialogue, but we respect that decision, and we look forward to working with the community."

Love Our Lido has written to Jersey Business, which has been running the tender on the government's behalf, indicating it no longer wants to run for the contract.

It is understood to be became of the level of government grant - £60,000 per year - being offered.

The group, which is trying for charitable status, originally wanted £170,000 a year to run the pool, totalling around £1.8 million over nine years. compared to the government's intended £540,000 spend.

We've contact the group for comment.

The government has vacant possession of the premises, and there are some items in the Lido that First Point may have the opportunity to purchase.

When asked about the timeframe of the planned takeover, the Infrastructure Minister said people can use the Lido 'today, tomorrow and into the future'.

"People are using the Lido every day, and people have continued to swim.

"The changing rooms have been open, the toilets are open and clean.

"Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, we'll see the cafe reopen, and it will probably take a bit longer for the main room to reopen."