Victoria Marine lake swimming safety
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WQ.122/2026
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BY DEPUTY L.V. FELTHAM OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 6th JULY 2026 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 13th JULY 2026
Question
"In relation to swimming safety at the Victoria Marine Lake, will the Minister advise –
- what safety measures and warning signage are currently in place to discourage swimming;
- what assessment if any, has been made of whether those warnings are sufficiently visible, accessible and understandable to all users from the main access points;
- whether the no-swim zone is clearly marked; and
- whether any further safety measures are planned?"
Answer
For clarity, there are presently no circumstances whereby swimming can be undertaken safely at the Victoria Marine Lake.
- There is signage on the steps at La Fregate, the Castle Slipway, and the steps from car park 1 on Victoria Avenue stating that there is to be no swimming in the Victoria Marine Lake. There is further signage at the Marine Lake itself. Signage has been updated since the department received notification on 1st July of the serious incident that took place at the Marine Lake on 21st June.
Subsequent to that incident, there are now large blocks (the placing of which has been cleared with the Planning Department) in a line across the mouth of the Marine Lake, joined by out of life mooring rope from Ports and marked with buoys with further signage that says that there is no swimming in or walking around the lake structure. This signage includes pictograms that provide a visual representation of the no swimming message, easily understood whether beach users speak English or not.
- The placing of the warnings has been validated by an Infrastructure and Environment Health and Safety assessment of the content and location as being effective.
- The dangers of swimming in or near the structure, or walking around the structure, are clearly and now more explicitly identified. I once again urge the public to comply with these notices in the interest of safety.
- The measures in place are designed to draw attention to the significant danger of swimming in or near the structure. Additional work is being undertaken as a matter of priority to consider how we can further reduce the risk associated with the structure and to develop longer-term solutions for the site.