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A familiar sight on the St. Helier skyline is disappearing this week, with the final section of the Fort Regent swimming pool being demolished.
After the main structure is removed, the pool tank and basement plant rooms with be broken out and recycled, and the area will be returned to grass, restoring the Glacis Field to its original size for the first time in 50 years.
The current completion date is mid-February 2021.
Video: The final roof sections were removed over the weekend.
The pool was opened in 1971 and will be remembered by thousands of Islanders who perhaps gained their first swimming badge there, took part in the annual Swimarathon, trained before school as a Tiger or member of the JSC, bounced on the inflatables during Pluto's Playtime, attempted crazy dives off the high board to show off in front of mates, played a highly charged game of water polo, learned how to kayak, were told off by the lifeguard in the highchair for bombing, or sweated profusely in the steep gallery while waiting for children to finish their lessons.
The demolition will eventually be followed by the redevelopment of the whole Napoleonic fortification.
The next Government Plan, due to be debated next month, allocates £4.8m from the capital budget in 2021 to work on Fort Regent: £1.8m for 'pre-feasibility' work and £3m to pay for early projects.
Pictured: Many islanders will remember being welcomed by Humfrey to the Fort Regent pool.
It is likely that the Infrastructure, Housing and Environment department will also apply for a slice of the recently approved £50m Fiscal Stimulus Fund, possibly to clear the site of asbestos.
The overall plan is to make the Fort attractive and useable in the short term while its long term future is agreed.
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