WATCH: Work begins at La Vallette to redevelop bathing pools

Fundraising by Vive La Vallette is ongoing, but with well over half the budget achieved, the decision was taken to begin putting spades into the ground.

It is anticipated that the first stage of the £1.5m. project – the new cafe, community function space and changing rooms – will be completed by spring 2022.

A temporary changing hut has already been installed to try to minimise disruption to the regular swimmers, and the pools will still be accessible throughout the building process.

A £25,000 grant from the Guernsey Community Foundation tipped the balance to allow the work to get under way.

Helen Bonner-Morgan, the community lead for Vive La Vallette, was delighted that the vision was becoming a reality.

‘We’re celebrating the start of the build programme which begins on 4 January, and we’re also really grateful for the support that we’ve had so far, especially the grant from the Guernsey Community Foundation.

‘There’s an amazing swimming community here already, and you can see from the aspect we have looking out towards all of the islands that it’s an incredible facility for everyone to come and enjoy for different activities, so swimming will be the core, but then we also want to encourage walkers to stop off and have their cups of coffee before they go onto the cliffs, and also we see the space being used for educational and creative purposes.’

On New Year’s Day an artist’s impression video was being played on a loop at the site so that swimmers could see the plans.

Originally the concrete building was going to be painted a bluey grey, but that has now changed to white.

The three-level building will have changing rooms on the lower floor with free hot showers, lockers, benches and spaces to sit, relax and watch. On the ground floor there will be a cafe, with an emphasis on affordable, healthy food. On top of that will be a private space that can be rented out for activities like yoga or corporate events.

It is envisaged that the grassy mound area behind will eventually become a performance space for musicians and arts groups.

The plans have been divisive among swimmers, with some welcoming them, and others feeling more cautious.

Mrs Bonner-Morgan said they understood the concerns, and the special atmosphere and magic at La Vallette would continue.

‘We’ve worked with the swimmers and consulted them considerably about the things that were important to them, for instance the seated area at the front of the building is really important to the swimming community and obviously the comfort of the changing rooms and the showers.

‘At the core of our offering is a real focus on mental and physical health, and happiness.

‘It’s timely, but it’s also an activity that’s been really central to many people’s lives for many many years, and in a place like Guernsey there are people all over the island swimming at various favourite spots, it has exploded and we are so pleased to be in a position to offer an enhanced facility to make it easier for more people to get the benefits from cold water swimming.’