Access to the old cable car station at Fort Regent

2017.01.17

11 Deputy K.C. Lewis of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and

Culture regarding access to the old cable car station at Fort Regent: [1(52)]

Further to reports that children have gained access to the old cable car station at Fort Regent, will the Minister undertake to tighten up security at the Fort to avoid a fatality?

Senator L.J. Farnham (The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and

Culture):

My department views safety issues at Fort Regent as one of its key risks and is urgently taking measures to safeguard the public. Prior to Christmas, officers from the department met with the Council of Ministers to discuss removal of both the cable car station and the footbridge between the Fort and the swimming pool. The Council of Ministers’ approval was given and officers are now working with the Treasury to identify the funds for the work. Until demolition is possible, which is hoped to be by the end of this year at the latest, my department will continue to work with Property Holdings to seek security and safety at both sites is maintained.

1. Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Perhaps I should also be working with his officers on this. After lodging this question regarding Fort Regent last Saturday, I took my dog for a walk up to Glacis Field to see what the problem was and walking down the path again looked behind me, as I was passed by a group of youths who walked through a gap in the fence and proceeded to climb on top of the pool building completely unobstructed. Surely better fencing and C.C.T.V. (closed-circuit television) cameras should be installed as a minimum. Does the Minister not agree?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

We are working with Property Holdings and the department continues to make strong regular efforts to fence off and secure both cable car stations and the footbridge and all other areas where safety is deemed important. But it is difficult because these young people have very ingenious ways of getting in. As one hole is repaired in the fence, another hole appears. But, nevertheless, the department and my department are doing their best to keep on top of it because I am surprised there has not been a serious injury or worse already because these young people are behaving in a very unsafe manner. They are skating on the roof, footbridge and other areas and it is very dangerous. I would urge them to stop in the interest of their own safety. But the Deputy can rest assured that we are doing everything possible to keep up with the security until the final measures have been taken.

The Bailiff :

There will be opportunities for questioning this Minister in questions without notice later. Final supplementary, Deputy Lewis .

2. Deputy K.C. Lewis :

I am more than happy to send the Minister pictures of a 3-foot gap between a fence and a wall that children do not have to be cunning, they merely walk in. Videos have also appeared online showing youngsters running across the roof of the dome at Fort Regent. If anybody runs across the glass section north or south of Fort Regent they will go through, and there is a considerable drop. Will the Minister also agree to secure the old cable car station?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, I would be grateful if the Deputy could forward a picture of the gap, so I can pass it on to officers and they can take action. I would also be pleased to arrange for the Deputy and any other Members interested to visit the Fort and be shown around by the staff. I think they will be astounded to see that young people are scaling buildings that I think Spiderman would have trouble getting up, so it really is quite incredible what they are achieving. But I do assure Members that the department is doing its best to keep it secure.