The government has agreed to undertake works in the former railway tunnels in St Aubin to enable shooting clubs to continue operating there.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan, who has responsibility for sport, provided the update in response to a written question from Deputy David Warr.
Constable Jehan said: “Recently, we have agreed to undertake work in the tunnels at St Aubin to enable shooting clubs to continue operating there.”
It last year emerged that tenants of the former railway tunnels who had used the site for decades faced the prospect of having to find new premises after the government confirmed their leases were not being renewed for “safety reasons”.
A petition to remain by one of the groups – St Brelade’s Smallbore Rifle Club, which has used the tunnels since 1947 – attracted more than 400 signatures.
The petition stated: “We have been a small but effective shooting club for many years and have produced athletes who have taken part in Island and Commonwealth Games, and we continue to support juniors, some of whom have competed in the UK this year.
“It is not easy to re-home such a club as this and we are asking for reconsideration.”
Several other organisations and businesses use the tunnels to store equipment, including the owners of Le Petit Train who keep their trains there when they are not in use.
But last year Constable Jehan said safety concerns had led to meetings with the tenants, and that those concerns had been reinforced by reports.
At the time, the government was also in negotiation with property owners above parts of the tunnels to try to secure rights to access and grant leases for parts of the tunnels which – under Jersey property law – they also own.
The main railway tunnel was built in 1897 and 1898 as part of the railway which stretched from St Helier to Corbière, and it was subsequently enlarged during the Occupation, extending the complex under private properties in St Aubin.
The St Brelade’s Smallbore Rifle Club declined to comment when approached by Express.
