Deputies seek solution to save diving board

Deputies are investigating the potential to deepen a bathing pool in Guernsey to save a public diving board that had to close for safety reasons.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last month served a prohibition notice in relation to the board at La Vallette Bathing Pools, following reports of incidents and near misses.

It said the depth of the water under the platform fell below international standards and should be removed.

Environment and Infrastructure President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said: "The committee is in the process of assessing the extent of work required, which may lead to a financial bid to deliver works to further improve the pool, on top of the work done in 2022."

In addition to deepening the pool, de Sausmarez said other measures being investigated included doing work on the walls and adding additional safety measures such as equipment and information.

De Sausmarez said she was hopeful the work would mean "this much-loved swimming facility can continue to be safely used by locals and visitors alike".

HSE said the maximum depth of the water below the diving platform was 2.75m (9ft) which did not meet the 3.2m (10.5ft) minimum depth required by the World Aquatics and British Standards.

Originally, the diving board was supposed to be removed within a week but plans were halted after hundreds of islanders turned out to demonstrate the public's "strength of feeling" about keeping the diving board.

De Sausmarez said: "I can't commit to any time frames at the moment because there are a few variables that we still don't yet know but I can say that we are not hanging around.

"So we are not delaying, we are getting on with this as soon as we possibly can."

She added even if work was completed the diving board still may not be able to reopen.

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