Families frustrated after being split up during park screening of Euros final

Tuesday 16 July 2024

Islanders have expressed their disappointment and frustration after being turned away from a public screening of the Euro 2024 football match at Howard Davis Park – with some families split either side of the gates.

Islanders were encouraged last week to head to the St Saviour park on Sunday to watch England take on Spain.

The free family-friendly zone – which did not require tickets – opened from 19:15 which was 45 minutes before kick-off at 20:00. 

However, many islanders said they arrived at the park just after kick-off only to find the gates closed. 

Posting on social media, the denied attendees said security had claimed the venue had reached its 3,000-person capacity.

However, attendees inside the park said that the venue was only “half-full”. 

Pictured: Islander Will Wright posted on the Good or Bad Jersey Businesses Facebook group at 20:06 on Sunday, saying: "Some event planning gone a bit wrong. Gates shut and families split each side of gates."

The situation led to families being separated, according to the Facebook comments, with some inside the park and others left outside. 

Commenting on a social media post about the incident, some parents said that their children had been turned away, including one who said their 12-year-old son was left upset and alone after being denied entry while his sister was already inside.

Pictured: The big screen at Howard Davis Park proved a hit for last week's semi-final against Netherlands. (Government of Jersey)

Some said that people were eventually allowed in about 45 minutes after the match had started, but by then many had already left. 

This incident came just a week after a Reform politician suggested to the Economic Development Minister during a public scrutiny hearing that permanent or rolling licenses could be granted for areas like the Weighbridge, People's Park, and Howard Davis Park in a bid to streamline the process of event planning for areas that were regularly used for public events. 

Express has contacted the Government for comment.