Call made to scrap tender for Havre des Pas lido project

The future of the Havre des Pas Lido is once again headed to the States Assembly, as efforts continue to halt the current tender process for its management.

The government is currently searching for an operator to take charge of the popular outdoor pool and its facilities. But Deputy David Warr is pushing for a different route, proposing that a new charity, Love Our Lido, should be given responsibility instead.

Under his plan, the charity would receive £170,000 each year to cover upkeep of the historic seaside site. Deputy Warr says the figure reflects the true cost of maintaining the lido.

“We identified that the ongoing annual cost of running the pool and its infrastructure is about £120,000,” he explained. “In addition, there’s a major maintenance expense roughly once every decade — this year it was around £500,000. Spread over ten years, that brings the total yearly funding requirement to roughly £170,000.”

He hopes that securing guaranteed funding will end the recurring arguments over the pool’s future.

“Every five or ten years we end up debating how underfunded Havre des Pas is, tempers flare in the Assembly, and then extra money is allocated. This cycle needs to stop,” he said.

Deputy Warr emphasises that the proposed funding would be ringfenced, ensuring it cannot be diverted to other departments.

Beyond providing a place to swim, he argues the lido holds significant value for islanders and visitors alike.

“People now truly appreciate how important the Havre des Pas pool is,” he said. “It’s a key part of our visitor offering, it benefits public health, and it means a great deal to the local community. That’s why support for this approach has been so strong.”