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Diving board removal paused to explore options

Diving board removal paused to explore options

Yahoo09-02-2025
Plans to remove the diving board from Guernsey's La Vallette Bathing Pools have been temporarily halted.
On Friday, the the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served a prohibition notice in relation to the board, following reports of incidents and near misses.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Committee for Environment and Infrastructure, said the board would "not be removed this week" as originally planned.
She said: "We have managed to work with the HSE, who have agreed to give us more time to work with members of the community to explore alternative options."
The HSE said the depth of the water under the platform fell below international standards and it should be removed.
It 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.
Adrian Sarchet, known as the Sea Donkey, believes the board is an "iconic piece of heritage" and he started a campaign to save it.
Mr Sarchet said as a result of the meeting with De Sausmarez, there was now a "plan of action".
He said: "The first part of that plan is a short stay of execution on the removal of the diving board.
"It will not be removed next week.
"The second part of the plan is for a small committee... to try to find a solution which satisfies all stakeholders.
"It is not a done deal that the diving board will stay."
Mr Sarchet said the level of public engagement on the matter had "opened up opportunities worth exploring that simply weren't there before".
Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
Calls to save diving board after removal notice
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