A St Helier Deputy has raised concerns over “the calibre of work” done as part of a drive to improve and maintain the Lido – after the Government spent “significant” sums of money on the publicly-owned site.
Deputy David Warr said taxpayers should be “hugely concerned” about the quality of external paintwork.
In October, the Council of Ministers said “significant” sums of public money had gone towards the Lido in recent years, “with £500,000 being spent in the current year in order to maintain and improve its infrastructure”.
All taxpayers should be hugely concerned when they see the calibre of work that’s been done at the Lido
St Helier Deputy David Warr
In a recent written question, Deputy Warr asked Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan for a breakdown of the expenditure over the past six months.
Mr Jehan revealed that just over £76,000 remained to be used of the “total commitment” of £495,102.
The spending so far ranged from electrical works to pool repairs and fire risk assessments, including over £157,000 on “external redecoration and repairs”.
Noting “the huge sums of money invested in this high-profile site”, Deputy Warr said: “All taxpayers should be hugely concerned when they see the calibre of work that’s been done at the Lido.”
It is not the first time that management of the site has sparked debate in recent months.
Following a protest in the Royal Square in October, it was confirmed that current operator Marcus Calvani, of BeServed, will be able to remain at the Lido until the end of this year.
He had previously been told to end operations there by the end of that month, with ministers arguing that taking vacant possession of the site was necessary to give it a “fresh start”.
The Government has sought expressions of interest from prospective new operators amid wider debate over the area’s future.
Mr Calvani also raised the paintwork issue in a social media post, in which he asked islanders if they were “happy with your tax money being spent and managed like this”.
Following queries from Express, Constable Jehan said: “We are not happy with the quality of the work and that is why we have contacted the contractors last Tuesday.
“We are waiting for them to rectify it.”