ESC president Paul Montague said the leisure centre, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, would have to change in response to mounting concerns about losses which have reached about £1m. a year.
He told the States that between April and June this year his committee was expecting to receive the conclusions of a review of Beau Sejour which was announced as far back as September 2023.
‘Ageing facilities mean rising maintenance costs, and continuing as we are is not sustainable.
‘The committee is therefore exploring all options to secure a financially sustainable solution for the future,’ said Deputy Montague.
He spoke enthusiastically about the centre’s role in island life and estimated that it generated a minimum social value of £1.4m. last year.
‘Extensive consultation confirms the centre’s clear purpose – to be a trusted, welcoming and inclusive hub at the heart of island life, supporting wellbeing, connection and community across generations,’ he said.
‘This means providing safe, affordable and accessible spaces, enabling people to be active, stay connected and look after their health as part of everyday life. Delivering this vision requires a joined-up, cross-government approach focused on integrated, customer-centred services.’
The lengthy review is known to have been looking at various options for the centre’s future, including outsourcing, increasing use and income, and the appropriate level of subsidy from the public purse.
Deputy Montague assured the States that his committee was well across all of its wide-ranging mandate, and announced that it would produce a strategy for culture, leisure and heritage during the political term.
He said that his members were ‘reinvigorating’ the committee’s relationship with various commissions and other external bodies to which it provided grant funding.
He also confirmed that events to mark the 81st anniversary of the Liberation on 9 May would centre on St Peter Port, following experiments with more parish-focused approaches in some years recently, although small grants will be available to support local celebrations.
‘Planned activities include a seafront road race, parade, church service and cavalcade display, family events at the Crown Pier, food, music and stalls at the Albert Pier, a free event at Castle Cornet, fireworks, and an island-wide cavalcade,’ he said.
The budget was already largely committed to essential logistics and sponsorship was being sought for other costs.
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