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13
WQ.165/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE
MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, SPORT AND CULTURE BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 26th MARCH 2019
Question
What action, if any, is being taken by his department to support the Jersey netball team, Team Jets; and what plans, if any, are in place to enable this organisation to find a training base that would allow it to maintain participation levels in this sport?
Answer
We aware that the Jersey Netball Association (JNA) will no longer have the use of the netball courts at Les Ormes from March 2020. The Department, together with Jersey Sport, has been in discussion with the JNA since the option for a private development for courts by the JNA ceased to be an option last year.
Without a dedicated facility, it is highly likely that the extensive and inclusive netball programme delivered at present would be substantially reduced because the depth of competition would no longer be available. As a result, all parties recognise that there is a need to address the requirement for netball facilities as a matter of urgency if the largest participation sport for women in Jersey is not to be negatively impacted.
We have concluded that there are two main options for resolving this issue, both of which are potentially impacted by the long-term solution for developing an Island Sports Hub, but are central to the second phase of the Sports Facility Strategy, a detailed review for the long term provision of sports facilities in Jersey.
- Provide a temporary sports hall which provides the required netball courts. Netball would then be integrated into the design and build of an Island Sports Hub in the longer term.
- Design and construct a standalone permanent Netball Centre' utilising a Sports Air Dome product. This would ensure netball is catered for in any necessary timeframe and would reduce the sports hall space that might be required in an Island Sports Hub. If this was built at an existing secondary school, it would have the added benefit of becoming a valuable resource for the school.
As part of the second phase of the Sports Facilities Strategy we will explore in detail both these options. This review is already underway and establishing a worked through solution for netball will be a priority of this work. We continue to communicate with the JNA on a regular basis and will consider any option that could provide netball with a dedicated home.