Select a region
Scores of islanders have given their backing to a mobile sauna business owner who has faced a series of planning challenges since setting up last year, after he submitted a fresh application to stay at St Catherine's.
Fitness enthusiastic and entrepreneur Cole McLean has resubmitted a planning application to locate his business adjacent to the Canoe Club building, after previous plans were refused in January.
The challenges in finding a suitable location date back several months.
Mr McLean opened his business last year in St Ouen, with the unit nestled in the car park south of the Watersplash.
As the chillier months arrived, he parked the structure at St Catherine's in October, offering people the chance to take a dip off the slip and then reheat while looking out to sea.
Pictured: Snowfall over the sauna in St. Catherine's Bay.
Just two weeks after the move, Mr McLean was told that he had to move the sauna from the top of the slip as the land was Government-owned and it required planning permission if he wanted to stay for more than 28 days.
The sauna was subsequently moved next to the Canoe Club building, with Mr McLean describing the relocation as "a bit of an extra walk for our sea dips but not the end of the world".
He was told that he had to submit a new planning application if he wanted to remain on the site, close to the Canoe Club on the widened area of pavement.
Mr McLean submitted a planning application for this new location in December, something he felt was unnecessary due to the high cost of compiling an application and the fact that the site is "only a trailer".
Pictured: The Sauna Society featured in the February edition of Connect Magazine.
However, the submission was refused in January, with Planning stating that it lacked evidence and required a heritage impact assessment, transport statement and visual impact assessment to be undertaken and submitted.
The most recent application seeks to obtain permission to stay at the Canoe Club site for the second time, with the new evidence submitted.
Social media posts about Sauna Society's ongoing challenges have generated hundreds of responses and widespread backing for the venture, ranging from other businesspeople working in different trades who are sympathetic to his struggles with red tape, keen sauna-goers, and other well-wishers.
The recently submitted planning application also includes many positive comments made by the public.
One islander in her 20s commented: "The sauna is such an amazing asset to the island... I would be very gutted if the sauna is removed.
"As an island, we should support small businesses like this and offer them all the support they need to thrive."
Another commenter said: "It's a wonderful entrepreneurial addition to the island to inspire others to start a small business."
Pictured: The location of the moveable sauna structure to the north of the Jersey Canoe Club.
However, others have been less positive, raising concerns regarding the look of the sauna and its potential impact on traffic and parking.
"Sadly this structure is an ugly square corrugated metal structure not in keeping with the surrounding breakwater buildings," one public comment read.
"The participants in the 'service' also take up valuable restricted car parking for those visitors to the breakwater and to the Breakwater Cafe."
However, Mr McLean argues that parking has never been an issue and there have been no traffic incidents since he set up the site in October.
He said that the sauna only holds a maximum of eight people per hour, with many people travelling to the site in the same vehicle, and many tending to leave immediately afterwards as there are no shower facilities on site.
Praising his supporters, Mr McLean commented: "I want to thank everyone who has supported the Sauna Society so far. We have created a really nice community and it is great to see how people have built this into their routines and prioritising their wellness."
FOCUS: Some like it hot! Why running a sauna ain't 'no sweat'
Turning up the heat! Jersey gets second pop-up sauna
Pop-up sauna faces uncertain future due to permit misunderstanding
WATCH: Could saunas start popping up around Jersey?
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.