Guernsey Sports Leaders Worry About Future of Beau Sejour Leisure Centre

Sports leaders in Guernsey are worried about the future of Beau Sejour, the island's main leisure centre. A recent report said the centre has been losing money for a long time and that no plan to fix the problem has been decided yet. Leaders of the netball and squash communities say that if the centre closes or cuts back its services, it could cause big problems for their sports.

Naomi Szmierek, who represents the Guernsey Netball Association, said netball is already struggling because there are not enough courts to meet demand. She said junior programmes, community players, and island-level teams all need more space than they currently have. Beau Sejour is a key part of what the association does, hosting squad training, club sessions, and junior activities. Without it, she said, the sport would face serious challenges.

Szmierek also raised concerns about timing. Guernsey is set to host the Inter-Insular tournament next year, a major competition between the Channel Islands. She warned that if Beau Sejour became unavailable even for a short time, it would cause 'a huge problem' for preparations. While she said she was open to changes at the site, she stressed how important it is to keep a central sports hub where islanders can do many activities in one place.

Martin Watts, the treasurer of the Guernsey Squash and Racquetball Association, said Beau Sejour is 'crucial' to his sport. He explained that it is now the only place on the island where squash can be played, making it impossible to replace. Watts said years of not investing enough money in the building have left parts of it in poor condition, although some improvements have recently begun. He said suggestions in the report that squash facilities could be cut back were 'slightly frustrating.'

Watts also argued that the report does not fully reflect how popular squash really is. He said demand is actually higher than the numbers show, because his association has often been limited in how many courts it could book at one time. He also expressed disappointment that racquetball, a sport that is attracting new players to Beau Sejour, was not even mentioned in the report. Despite his concerns, he said the association is ready to work with the centre's management to find the best path forward.

Island officials have acknowledged that Beau Sejour has a financial problem. Paul Montague, the President of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture, said this week that the centre is 'not sustainable' the way it is currently run. He said it is 'perfectly possible' that private companies could invest in the centre in the future, but he did not give more details. Sports leaders say they hope any future changes will protect the facilities that athletes and community members rely on.