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21.05.11
10 Senator S.W. Pallett of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport
and Culture regarding the teaching swimming pool at Les Quennevais Sports Centre (OQ.111/2021)
Further to Written Question 150/2021, which I thank the Minister for responding to previously, will the Minister explain why, given the need for young children to resume swimming tuition after the pandemic, the teaching swimming pool at Les Quennevais Sports Centre still remains closed after 10 months; and will he provide Members with a definitive date for its re-opening to the public?
Senator LJ. Farnham (The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture):
Deputy Raymond will take this question, if he may.
Deputy H.C. Raymond of Trinity (Assistant Minister for Economic Development,
Tourism, Sport and Culture - rapporteur):
You will have all seen, as Senator Pallett has just said, the recent responses given to the written question in 150/2021 regarding Les Quennevais Sports Centre and issues we were having with regards to the swimming pool, so I am very pleased to be able to give you an update today about the opening of the pool in response to the questions now asked. We are working towards restarting children's swimming lessons at Les Quennevais as soon as possible and I would have to use the word "imminent". We were hoping to start tomorrow but it will probably be on Thursday we should be opening. The learner pool is now full of water, the new circulation pumps are in operation, the heating is on, and the temperature is coming up to the usual 29 degrees and at the present, as I say, having just been told, is at 25 degrees this morning. We have been chlorinating as required. Children's swimming lessons have been taking place in the main pool and these could move into the smaller pool as soon as it is ready. Family swimming in the small pool will also be able to resume. It will also be my intention to use the media to make sure that everybody is fully aware of what is happening at the pool so that we can get it out to everybody and the general public.
2.10.1 Senator S.W. Pallett:
I thank the Assistant Minister for his answer and I think the public will be pleased that we are finally getting to a point when it is going to reopen, although "imminent" was used. Building and maintenance is all about, planning, planning, planning, but knowing the importance of swimming in an Island context where children have access to the beaches and all the risks involved with open water, does the Minister really think it acceptable that our main teaching pool has been unavailable for such a long period? Why was not more focused and more planning involved with his department in ensuring this facility reopened in the shortest possible time?
The Deputy of Trinity :
Following on from that statement, we did have problems with regards to the Grundfos pumps, as you probably know, as stated in the previous written questions. We had difficulty in getting them over, that is now all done. The reason I used the word "imminent", and I think the Senator will understand this, is that one little problem that we have is that we still have to make sure that the States analysts get the right satisfactory bacteriological results from the pool. But in hindsight, I do agree with you, there could have been a little bit more pushing on this to get the pool open because it has been sorely missed in the area of Les Quennevais and around.