Lido, Jersey

27/11/2025

23/11/2025

P.94/2025 What’s really going on now with the States debate over The Lido, Havre des Pas?

The States of Jersey is this week debating an amendment to an amendment to the original proposition for the site and it’s time the public knew exactly what’s changing, what’s at risk, what this all means, and who’s stepping in to protect our community’s interests.

What’s under debate?
The original proposition committed that the site would be handed over to a community-led charitable entity, as promised by the Chief Minister about 12 months ago, with continuity of the business, fit-out, staff employment, future bookings and the place people have grown to love, with a government commitment to underwrite the known annual maintenance costs of the public areas of the site, not a grant, just a guarantee that the Charity could raise funds and offset against to reduce cost to the public over time.

But the Infrastructure Minister and his department changed that proposition by filing an amendment : instead of facilitating a smooth transition to a charity model, the amendment from the Minister’s department pushes for a vacating of the site, effectively undermining the community’s wishes, the staff’s jobs, and the decades of goodwill built around the place.

Enter the amendment to that amendment proposed by Deputy David Warr : Deputy Warr has put forward an amendment to the Minister’s amendment which protects the public interest: ensuring that (a) the handover to the charitable entity happens as originally promised once the States of Jersey receive the findings of a Jurat’s investigation into the tender process, (b) the business remains operational during the transition (so staff keep their jobs, future bookings are honoured, the fit-out is maintained) and (c) the public amenity remains functioning rather than being “vacated” and moth-balled. A continuation of transition as agreed between the Directors of the commerical business at this time and the future community-led charity governed model.

Why this matters : The community has asked repeatedly - keep this place as is, handed over smoothly to a charity that cares about all site stakeholders, users and neighbourhood not just profit; keep the business running; keep people employed; keep the bookings coming. Instead, the Minister seems obsessed with clearing out the site, little regard for the community or for what people use and cherish daily.

Is this about the Minister protecting his own reputation or shielding the failures of his department? Because the effect is clear: risk losing everything the public have grown to love, all for what? A power play or a bureaucratic fix-up?

What we want : Support Deputy Warr’s amendment. Tell the States: Honour the promise. Hand the site over, keep the business operating, protect jobs, and deliver for the community. Community for the community, a simple, transparent, proven model that is really the only sustainable future for a site like this.

Lido Steering Group

The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button. The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. PDF version STATES OF JERSEY MANA...

20/11/2025

A LONG-STANDING Jurat has been confirmed as the independent arbiter for a review into the tender process for the operation of Havre des Pas Lido. The review was initiated by Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan last week following a meeting with one of the bidders, Love Our Lido. Having initially been...

19/11/2025

Is there any better way to start your day? Early morning cold water swim, warm drinks and freshly baked pastries before you start reality! Early morning at every Wednesday and Thursday morning.

19/11/2025

Sometimes it’s good to read other islanders opinions and get a reality check. Ben Shenton.

15/11/2025

All welcome... free to play.

14/11/2025

We are so excited to watch Bergerac Series 2 at the beginning of next year and this photo just released to the media makes us so proud of all the hard work we did to get this amazing site featured. Lido Steering Group

13/11/2025

NEWS FOCUS - Jersey Evening Post

Lido review promised at Royal Square rally : States Members address the crowd protesting against the decision to award the contract to a commercial operator. Michael Morris reports

AN “independent review” of the tender process for the Havre des Pas Lido will be carried out ahead of a States debate on whether to hand the lease to a community group, the Infrastructure Minister has said during a demonstration yesterday.

States Members emerging for the lunch-break during yesterday’s sitting may have been expecting a hard time given the gathering crowds in the Royal Square to protest against the government’s decision to award the Lido contract to commercial operator First Point.

The bathing pool site has become something of a battleground with the strength of feeling against ministers – in particular Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan – growing after community group Love Our Lido was initially given “preferred bidder” status to run the operation at Havre des Pas – only for that status to be revoked when negotiations with the government broke down.

The protest had initially been planned to coincide with a States debate on the future of the Lido. Deputy David Warr has lodged a proposition which, if approved, would require ministers to interrupt the tender process and offer a lease to Love Our Lido.

However, Members rejected his attempts to reduce the lodging period to have that debate this week and so it will be another two weeks before the topic hits the floors of the Chamber – which is almost certain to come with another protest.

Addressing the several dozen in the Royal Square before the politicians exited the Chamber, Love Our Lido governor and long-distance swimming legend Sally Minty-Gravett said: “We need it for the people – that is why we are here and we need to stand firm on that. We need to make sure this doesn’t go away.”

Several Members kept their heads down and dodged the waiting crowd outside the Chamber door – opting to shuffle around the back of the C**k and Bottle pub to join the back of the protesters and watch from a safe distance, while letting Deputy Warr have his moment to emerge to applause and a handful of whoops and cheers.

The St Helier Deputy managed to temper any potential anger towards Mr Jehan and his assistant minister – St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft – as they walked out a few paces behind.

Deputy Warr said that while he would have liked the debate on his proposition to go ahead, the fact that it had not “may have turned out to be a good thing”.

“There has been a question mark in the process that has taken place. The Infrastructure Minister now recognises that and there is going to be an independent check on the process over the next couple of weeks,” he said – perhaps stealing Mr Jehan’s thunder in confirming the review.

“I thank everybody for your support. We all want the same outcome and that is a community facility owned by the public, run by the public, for the public,” Deputy Warr concluded before handing the megaphone to the Infrastructure Minister, who encouraged all parties involved to take part in the review.

Speaking to the JEP, Mr Jehan said: “Whatever happens, we need to be confident that due process has been followed and that all sides have had the opportunity to put their points across.

“We were happy to go ahead with the debate [on Deputy Warr’s proposition] and we lodged our comments ahead of it. But, I had a constructive meeting with members of the Love Our Lido group on Monday and it became clear that it would have been the wrong thing to do at that stage. “We have said we will look at the questions that have been raised.”

Deputy Warr said that he hoped the review would allow Members to enter the debate on his proposition “with the full picture”.

He admitted that Members would probably find it difficult to support his proposition if the review found nothing wrong with the tender process but said he would press ahead with the debate as it “is an important community matter”.
“There is so much strong feeling here,” he added. “On behalf of the community it is important that I push on.

“The Lido is one of the things that is in Jersey’s DNA. It is at the heart of the community in the same way as Fort Regent is. It is one of the sites that matter to the people of the Island and we want to see it in community hands.”

Lido Steering Group

12/11/2025

A passionate tidal wave of people power filled the Royal Square this lunchtime… This is the People’s Pool and needs to be returned to the community as promised last year by Government. We are fully committed to passing the keys on to a community-led structure governed by a not for profit charity for the People of Jersey.