Essential repairs will see two Vallette pools shut
TWO of the bathing pools at La Vallette face frequent closures from June until November for maintenance work to reduce the risk of damage in future years.
And maintenance and repair of the Havelet sea wall will start this week as part of the coastal infrastructure team’s maintenance programme.
The concrete areas surrounding the ladies’ and children’s pools will be refreshed, and essential maintenance to the pools will be carried out, including underpinning sections of erosion and restoring masonry to reduce leakage.
The gents’ and horseshoe pools will remain in use throughout.
Efforts will be made to try and avoid closures of the ladies’ and children’s pools at the same time, but there may be days where neither pool can be used, depending on weather and tidal elements.
The slipway and some parking spaces may also need to be occupied to allow for contractor access, machinery and storage.
This is work that the States said it would carry out as part of its agreement with Vive La Vallette, which is progressing with the redevelopment of the kiosk and changing facilities into a new cafe and community hub.
Environment & Infrastructure recognised that having these works take place during the summer when there is an increased number of pool users may cause an inconvenience, but said the work was essential for ensuring that the pools remain safe and functional for users.
‘It would also not be possible to carry out these works during quieter seasons because of adverse weather conditions,’ a spokesman said.
Work on the sea wall at Havelet will be split into two sections, with the first at the northern end and followed by the southern end resuming in the autumn.
During the second section of works, the slipway and the adjacent parking will be obstructed. Works on the wall will address the most urgent areas for maintenance ahead of the winter.
The remaining areas will be completed next year.
'We appreciate the disruption maintenance works like these can cause at sites as popular as Havelet, however it is important we undertake these proactive maintenance works to reduce the risk of significant damage,’ said Peter Barnes from the coastal infrastructure team.
‘It is important to maintain these sea defences, and repair the pools, in order to provide a safe and enjoyable experience around the island’s coastline.’
