Cord cut for Fort Regent cable car link

Tuesday 01 July 2014

They were once a big hit with Islanders and visitors, but the high cost of re-installing the cable cars means they are unlikely to be making a return to Snow Hill.

The cars gave people access to Fort Regent from the top of town until 1991 and a steering group has been looking at the option of re-introducing them as part of a study to re-vamp the leisure centre.

Poma – the French company which specializes in cable-driven lift systems – says it’s technically feasible to start running them again but the Assistant Treasury Minister, who’s leading the study, says the capital and running costs would be too high.

The Rediscovering Fort Regent steering group is now looking at plans to get people walking from Snow Hill to a second town park at the Fort.

Deputy Eddie Noel said:  “We’re looking at the option of a linear park, St Helier’s second town park and linking up from Snow Hill with a linear park all the way down to Havre des Pas – a circular walkway along Havre des Pas through Howard Davis Park and back to the Fort which I think could be very attractive.”

The group is looking at ways of running Fort Regent as a public private partnership and isn’t ruling out the option of a new swimming pool on the site or even a temporary velodrome.

Deputy Noel said: ”We’re looking to provide the flexible spaces for other operators to come in and provide a facility for the public, like the ice skating rink that operates for a few months. There are some facilities that would be viable, which are not necessary for the government to operate – private enterprises would take the risk and run them with a lease or a license from the government.”

Islanders may never get to see the views from the cable cars again but they could soon be seeing town from a new angle. Deputy Noel wants to have a dome walk in place by next year if they can get a private company interested in running it.

The group’s new business plan for Fort Regent will be published in September ahead of a new States assembly being sworn in by the end of the year.