Ministerial Decision
Policing of Beaches (Jersey) Regulations 1959
New beach marine trading concession Jubilee Marine Lake, West Park, St Helier
Under the Policing of Beaches (Jersey) Regulations 1959, regulation 3 (1)(d), a person requires written permission from the Minister to engage in trading on the beach.
In response to the application from Jersey Marine Lake, The Bosdet Foundation, to operate a new beach marine trading concession, based on the beach adjacent to the recently restored Jubilee Marine Lake, West Park, St Helier. As with all new applications of this nature a full consultation process was undertaken with the Constable of the relevant Parish and on this occasion Jersey Harbours.
Overview Of Proposed Operation
As with Les Ormes the Jersey Sea Pool must not be pressurised by interest groups to favour one aquatic group over another. The purpose of management is to ensure use by the many for as many operating hours as possible in the season. It’s about throughput.
Linked next to this is an awareness of community. Encouraging those in our community who have not been exposed to the joys of water to experience it and hopefully take up an aquatic activity. These groups may well be subsidised by the JSP and commercial partners. An example could be a Sea Learn to Swim Programme, or Disabled Sailing. Links from the pool may then feed many of the various aquatic clubs on the Island.
Groups using the pool will be charged at a rate to be decided based on who the group is, their financial state, timing of use, block bookings, and amount of water area used. The objective here is not to deny any individual or group of having access to the sea pool but understanding that it is reasonable that groups should normally pay towards the sea pool.
Bosdet is determined that this Sea Pool based near our most disadvantaged community has the opportunity to experience and enjoy the sea in a range of activities. This same principle applies to the less abled and older members of our community.
Bosdet Articles do not allow it to help groups from off Island in a charitable way and so cannot subsidise off Island charitable groups.
Bosdet will fully develop tourism aquatic activities on the sea pool.
Some Activities that may take place:-
- General Swimming
- Holiday Summer Weeks (6 weeks summer holidays)
- Annual it’s a Knock out Corporate Games and School Games.
- Schools Activity weeks
- Community aquatic activities
- Aquatic club hire rate (whole / partial pool) e.g Jersey Aquatic Club,
- Corporate wet days
- Wet Children’ (& adult!) Parties
- Individual Hire Activity Charges:-
a) Sailing (possibly)
b) paddle-boarding
c) kayaking
d) Zorb balls,
e) Water inflatable runs / slide– family fun.
f) Mini jet skis 3-7yr (2.5mph)
Opening Times:-
The pool will be staffed / open to the public and aquatic groups between the minimum hour’s of1000-1800:-
- daily from the start of Jersey May half term to the last day of Jersey school holidays
- Weekends and public holidays from 1st May to end of October.
The pool may be used by aquatic groups at none staffed times subject to their insurance being approved by management.
It is inevitable that the pool will be used by private swimmers at other times. At their own risk.
The pool may open longer subject to demand and finance.
The Bosdet Foundation would:-
- Operate under a concession the sea pool for 25 years at no cost to either party.
- Bosdet would have the right to give notice annually at the end of each October for the following season after 5 years.
- The Quality Assurance Group could recommend to POSH to give notice if Bosdet was not operating the pool in a professional manner nor providing a service to the community annually at the end of October after the first 5 years.
- Encourage, Promote, Decide upon, Charge, Allocate, Operate, Sublet, and Coordinate various water activities that can be undertaken in the pool at various times of the day as it sees fit.
- Ensure general swimming will be free and available at all times in normal circumstances except where there may be a festival or other community event.
- Operate the pool for the good of the community subsidising various activities as it deems appropriate. This is fundamental to the Bosdet Foundation Articles in helping as many as we can in our community be they sporting youngsters, less abled, the elderly or other individuals and groups.
- Have included in the concession the German Bunker and 5 West Park dedicated slip way spaces for vehicles and various water craft.
- Commit £50k each year for the first 5 years towards direct sea pool activities; not maintenance of the structure or Life Guarding.
- Operate as a separate charitable cost centre reinvesting any monies back into activities in the sea pool that it may make after costs.
- Have appropriate insurance for the activities it operates.
- Ensure staff have appropriate qualifications and skills to manage the sea pool.
- Publish annual accounts (31/12) on the Sea Pool.
Consultation Responses
In response to the application the Constable of St Helier wholeheartedly approves of the application as the Parish of St Helier has committed £100,000 to the restoration and annual maintenance. This sum is in addition to that committed by The Jersey Development Company and Tourism Development Fund.
Jersey Harbours have advised the department that the Pilotage and Enforcement Manager has inspected the equipment for the Jersey Marine Lake. He has also received copies of their operating and emergency procedures. These are in good order and have adopted the following as best practice:
Royal Life Saving Society - Provision of Beach Lifeguard Services
British Canoe Union (BCU) - For kayak operations
British Stand Up Paddle Board (BSUP) - For Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Jersey Harbours is satisfied from a marine safety of life perspective that Jersey Marine Lake is well organised and safe.
Recommendation
Following approval from the Constable and Jersey Harbours may I recommend that Jersey Marine Lake be given the opportunity to commence this operation.
Hospitality & Leisure Manager
29th July 2014
gov.je