A digger will be craned into the Ladies’ Pool at La Vallette on Monday and Tuesday to deepen the floor below the platform.
Several local firms have come forward to carry out the work free of charge.
This was in response to a campaign spearheaded by swimmer Adrian Sarchet when the platform was threatened with removal due to the depth of the water being below health and safety standards.
‘This process has been a tour de force illustration of everything which is great about this island, from the kindness of strangers to the openness of government to the epic support shown by members of our business community,’ said Mr Sarchet.
Environment & Infrastructure president Lindsay de Sausmarez, who has been working closely with Mr Sarchet, revealed that the work starting next week should help to reopen the diving platform ahead of this summer.
The first step will be for Bob Froome & Sons Ltd to crane a one tonne digger onto the concrete slab next to the water.
After this, 12 one-tonne bags of sand, supplied by Norman Piette, will be used to create a ramp for the digger to drive into the pool. F Watson & Son will dig out silt and rubble from the pool, which will be taken away in one tonne bags supplied by Ronez.
At the same time, Vive La Vallette and the States are working on a long-term solution to reduce the amount of water which leaks out of the pool and preserve its structure.
Vive La Vallette chairman David Warr said there had been a ‘significant demonstration of support’ for the Bathing Pools since the closure of the platform was announced.
‘We are particularly grateful to F Watson & Son, Bob Froome & Sons, Norman Piette and Ronez for their pro bono support and expertise in committing to the dig out – a wonderful example of community support to help preserve our heritage and enhance these much-used and popular facilities,’ he said.
He apologised for any short-term inconvenience to pool users.
Deputy de Sausmarez said she was heartened by the community’s support for the Bathing Pools, including the ‘incredible generosity’ of the businesses involved.
‘Vive La Vallette and the ad-hoc committee led by Ady Sarchet have been absolutely brilliant to work with,’ she said.
‘I remain very hopeful that together we will be able to make the area safe enough to reopen the diving platform in time for the summer months, and enhance the Ladies’ Pool more generally through improvements to the walls as well.’
Deputy de Sausmarez, a keen swimmer herself, hoped that the level of public support would boost E&I’s bid for funding to secure the future of the Bathing Pools ‘now and for generations to come’.
Mr Sarchet thanked ‘every single person’ who has supported the cause.
‘From the toddlers with placards who attended their first public protest, to the octogenarian who offered to chain herself to the platform, to the officials of E&I and the members of its political committee who have worked so diligently and collegiately with us in good heart and with open minds,’ he said.
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