How about an ice rink at Fort pool?
Saturday 5th September 2009, 2:58PM BST.
Rowan Château would like to see the old Fort pool turned into an ice-rink. Picture by Jon Guegan
A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl believes she has found the ideal solution for turning the disused swimming pool at Fort Regent back into a popular venue.
Rowan Château, a pupil at La Moye School, wants to persuade States Members and others in authority that the pool should become a permanent ice-skating rink.
She has organised a petition which she is planning to hand over to a politician to take to the States on her behalf.
Rowan is a devoted dancer, but when she had her first experience of ice skating after Kyran Bracken’s Ice Party in July she was just as enthusiastic.
She has gained the permission of the Constable of St Helier Simon Crowcroft to collect more signatures for her petition in town tomorrow when she will be supported by her parents.
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Just what we need Fort Regent used by a minority of the populus – mind you better than nothing I suppose!!!
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Yeah let’s spend our tax money on the whims of a 10 year old girl!!!
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On the face of it, this idea is infinitely better than letting the area occupied by the disused swimming pool stand derelict.
I realise that these are terrible times for many people in Jersey and that state budgets will have to be cut to balance the Island’s budget for a few years yet.
But Miss Rowan Château’s idea most certainly has its merits and it should be given positive consideration.
Well done, Rowan!
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Nice idea, shame the buildings so ugly.
But I have another idea which is much more likely to happen, luxury high quality, extremely expensive apartments with balconies built by dandara, they could be called “bay view”
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Whilst I applaud this young lady for her idea of turning the disused pool into an ice rink, she is not the first to suggest this.
With all the cuts the States are announcing I doubt that a much needed attraction like this will come to fruition, and it is shameful that Islanders and visitors have to suffer the inadequasies (sp) of our powers that be.
Ah well, back to the TV and boredom.
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Well let’s just see how long this one takes? After all, the new skate park took just over 7 years to get passed. Good luck little girl. We asked about putting a park up there and all we got was that it’s unsafe and full of asbestos in the cellings but you go for it. What u got to lose?
and i don’t think the states care about the youth any more…
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Time that we looked at the valid ideas of those of our youth, instead of depreciating their vision of the future. Rowan Chateau, aged 10, has provided an able suggestion of the future use of the former Fort Regent pool area as an ice rink.Let us build on her foresight and examine this possibility, without the hidden invectives of some previous posts.
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No problem with the idea at all. As long as the States can sell the building to a private company for development as an ice skating ring, and the private company bears the full risks.
Otherwise, its a non-starter.
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why does she need corwcroft’s permission to collect signatures?
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The Fort needs to have many uses, even adults are totally susceptible to fads now rather than taking up a hobby long-term.
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People were saying the pool should be turned into an ice rink when I was at school over 7 years ago!
The Fort as a building is outdated – It should be re-designed as a modern entertainment venue – specifically with children in mind. Im sure where all sick of seeing drunken school children hanging around the streets at weekends.
St Helier has been in desperate need of children friendly venues ever since Funworld and the Bowling burnt down – give kids somewhere fun and safe to go in their spare time!
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How about turning it into a swimming pool ?
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There have been a number of good suggestions of how the old pool at the Fort could be put to good use.
I doubt that there is enough demand in Jersey for a permanent ice rink. The start up costs are significant, but more significant are the maintenance costs. One the initial novelty has passed, would there really be enough people going ice skating so that the daily maintenance costs and overheads are covered? I very much doubt it.
I used to be a gymnast and should have been competing in the Commonwealth Games next year but have pulled out because of the lack of gymnastics facilities in Jersey (after having to move here to take a job). So another good use would be a purpose built gymnastics facility – not many realise that there are about 700 children involved in gymnastics clubs in Jersey. However, I have made a number of attempts to push for better facilities in Jersey and nobody seems to care.
So yes, there are a number of good uses the old pool could be put to, but unless you can find the money yourself you might aswell keep dreaming (or move off the island)!
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Not a bad idea considering how popular Kyran Bracken’s ice rinks always seem to be, though I’m still all for converting the pool site and glacis field into a dry ski facility – it’s perfect for it! How about an ice rink indoors and dry ski slopes outdoors?
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Steve Burman (b) “and i don’t think the states care about the youth any more”
You are 100% correct here, for the states to care about the young they would start acting on climate change. When those currently at school are older it is by the latest predictions almost certai the hospital will flood regularly along with most coastal areas of the island. Unfortunately the majority of states members do not listen to science as it goes against their ideas of economic growth.
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why should the tax payer fork out for an ice rink . i can understand colder climates having them for sporting facillities but not for a minority to use . the pool should be reinstated as an ideal training aid for the island community and groups it would probably pay for it self
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Signatures,what is the point?the anti GST signatures ended up in the states bin.
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good luck rowan i hope you succeed in your quest.it would give the locals youngsters as well as the tourists something extra to do.its better to have something like this on the site then more appartments.i hope you get your wish little girl i would back you all the way.
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I think it is a great idea but it would have to be in conjunction with dry or real ski slope. Currently speaking to lord Jersey about how we can do it. The public cannot apy for it-lets hope Dandara don’t get 280 flats on it!
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Island Man and Mike, I love those ideas! I was also a competitive gymnast, although not at your level, and it annoys me that my nieces don’t have the option of gymnastics where they live.
There is no reason why a number of activities cannot be put in the area. Activities that would help residents and the few tourists that still come. I still think a massive youth facility with all sorts of different areas (internet access), online computer gaming areas, quiet areas, relaxing lounges, music/video lounges, study rooms, soundproof band rehearsal rooms, part-time counsellor, cage football, skateboarding, BMX-ing etc with separate facilities like ice skating, dryslope that could also be used by adults. Photo Card ID entry, small monthly charge for youths with individual charges for ice skating etc. See if any locals are interested (voluntarily) in running one-off taster classes for art, martial arts, first-aid, self-defence,… introduce kids to different activities since they seem to not like to go out and find them. And rent out the rooms during school-term day-time for businesses, special interest groups…
Of course it would cost the island but would be an investment in bringing down youth crime, would hopefully encourage young people to try other activities, and in the end I believe you’d save money in policing, property insurance and general maintenance. I honestly believe the initial investment is worth it and it could generate some income itself also.
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Yes an ice rink is a facility that would attract a certain interest, but I doubt that once the initial interest and novelty had worn off that it would, on it’s own, attract sufficient numbers to cover it’s ongoing upkeep and maintenance costs.
The real downside to this idea is that we would still be lumbered with a building in what is a prime and extremely visible location on the St Helier skyline which has all the architectural merit and charm of a cross between an Aeroflot Service Hanger and a Soviet Cooperative Farm tractor storage shed!
The real way forward, if at all, is a combination of all the current ideas but based on a new one of redeveloping the building as a state of the art Luxury Spa along the lines of that recently built in Bath!
Only unlike Bath you put in a skating rink and a full Olympic size swimming pool and indoor high diving pool on the ground floor with public access, and then on the next three Floors you put in the Spa Treatment and luxury Hotel style accommodation with a roof garden restaurant and plunge pool which you then rent out to an independent operator to run as a luxury Spa.
The new Building to be designed to take advantage of the elevated position and maximize the sea views and use of the refurbished park garden style grounds you then develop around it and the Fort ramparts.
To add icing to the cake you could add an indoor (Glass covered) real snow artificial ski slope and toboggan run on the Eastern side, and you now have something to shout about that just may draw in the punters on an ongoing basis in sufficient numbers to actually make some money!
Couple to this redevelopment of the indoor facilities at the main Fort area to include a state of the art Amusement Arcade,High speed attended lifts at the Snow Hill end, a cable car that goes somewhere (Like Gorey or St Catherines)and you have a real WOW! tourist attraction, with excellent usable and interesting facilities for Islanders as well.
Something to put in the Tourist brochures to counter the “Bad weather,nothing to do” argument.
I do however realize that such a move is taking a huge risk but you may as well go down in a blaze of glory (If that is the outcome)and if all else fails you can always relax the gambling regulations and turn the Rotunda into an up market Casino and install solar panels to provide electric power on it’s roof!
So come on let’s have some of that Rainy Day fund spent on a real class act for a change,it may just pay off!
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Any such project would cost millions. Locals want facilities but do not want to pay to use them. Any such facility would need an entrance fee of probably 10 or so. Can hear the wails already – we cannot afford it – it must be free – the States must pay!
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Simon Says (2) In a previous thread you said “Goodness me you local yokels are clueless” This comment would indicate that you are not from these shores. Therefore why would you be concerned about how “our” tax payers money is spent. Whilst you may disagree with the idea of an ice rink surely we should celebrate the fact that a young person is doing something positive and chasing something that they believe in. I hope that you are not one of those people who love to generalize about young people labeling them all unruly law breaking yobs.
As for Fort Regent, I would have thought that this is more of a priority than a town park. After all the town park has only been on the agenda for ten years now. Islanders have been crying out for action on Fort Regent for far longer and countless reports by outside experts have been carried out on the best options. I still think that the swimming pool should be reinstated there. It is clear that the Waterfront swimming pool cannot work as a combined swimming pool and leisure facility. I can’t see it having a long lifespan unless the States take it over.
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here’s a radical idea.
why don’t we sell or rent out Fort Regent and see what the private sector thinks would be viable there?
after all, for the last 30 years the states haven’t come up with any ideas that work.
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Hi, My daughter wrote to the states and James Reed on this subject earlier in the year, Mr Reed was impressed but she heard nothing from the states department. I think Nicks idea (no 21) is brilliant, ice skating, another swimming pool for the public to use and alot of other attractions.
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I fully support the idea of a permanent ice rink in Jersey. I believe that such a facility would be of great benefit for locals and tourists alike. I have raised the issue through Radio Jersey phone-ins and emails to Staes officials. I even tried to enlist Kyran Bracken’s support via the JEP reporter who had interviewed him earlier this year, sadly to no avail. I’m delighted to see that a 10-year-old has succeeded where an old man failed!
My biggest concern is that I doubt that the Fort Regent Swimming Pool would be large enough to accommodate a rink able to support not only top-level figure skating and ice dancing, but also sports such as ice hockey and speed skating.
The biggest mistake the States made when building the pool was that it was too small to host top-level competition. An Olympic sized rink is even bigger, 60m x 30m compared with 50m x 25m for an Olympic sized pool; as I recall the old pool was only 25m long.
So YES, let’s try to get a rink, but don’t let’s make the mistake of making it too small for anything other than leisure skating.
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