Show your passion for the Park!

Tuesday 02 February 2016

A new campaign group has been set up to get the People's Park knocked off the shortlist for the new hospital development.

The 'Save People's Park' group, which includes at least ten States members, says there's "a massive risk" that it could be the site picked for the new hospital because it may save costs - but they argue the loss of another green space in town still makes it too high a price to pay.

After weeks of rumours Health Minister Andrew Green confirmed yesterday that after spending £2.5 million whittling down a list of 40 potential sites, they've now got a choice of four:

-      Building a new hospital on the existing site, at a cost of around £600 million over up to 12 years.

-      The People’s Park site, which would cost £450 million over six years.

-      The Waterfront, which would cost £450 million over six years.

-      The Overdale site, which would cost £450 million over six years.

He said that over the next four weeks his department would be putting all of the relevant information in front of Islanders, including a website with data and reports on each of the 40 sites that were originally considered.

After that, an eight-week consultation process will begin before a final decision is taken and a proposition goes to the States for debate.

But Save People's Park Chairman Christian May said: "As long as People’s Park remains on the shortlist of locations for development, there is the potential that it will be selected by the Council of Ministers. The message from the people of St. Helier and the Island as a whole must be an unequivocal ‘No’. We do not want to sacrifice People’s Park for the hospital development.    

“I’m glad that we’re finally having a public consultation, not so happy with the fact that People’s Park remains on that shortlist, they’ve put positives and negatives against each of the possible sites but the document doesn’t seem to mention that it goes against the Island Plan to develop People’s Park.

"Although there hasn’t been a declared preference, I think there’s a leaning towards the park and there’s a massive risk that the park could be chosen.

“We’re going to keep campaigning. We’ve got a public meeting on 11 February at 7.30 pm in the Town Hall and we’ll be encouraging people to show their passion for the Park. The Health Minister will be there so people can ask him questions and ask why People’s Park was included."

Ministers have put together a compensation package for the People's Park site that would see them knock down existing hospital buildings and turn them into a replacement park, and extend the Millennium Town Park to provide more green space for town residents.

Mr May said: "It is inevitable that potential cost benefits of building on the Park will be presented by the Council of Ministers. What they cannot tell us is the final cost to the public if the Park is lost. There will be a cost to tourism, as key events like the Battle of Flowers Funfair and the Jersey International Motoring Festival are deprived of a home. There will be a cost to Helvetia House School and countless sporting groups in finding new locations for physical exercise. And, more than anything, there will be a cost to the community, as vital green space in St. Helier is lost to all Islanders. 

“We’ve seen in a short space of time so much public interest in this, even from people outside of town. It was a place that sustained people during the Occupation and has cultural significance for so many people."

St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft won't be approving any deal over the park and has tabled a proposition for debate on 23 February that would remove People’s Park from the list of sites.

Mr May said: "We would urge all concerned Islanders to join the public meeting, and to continue to write, call and email their States representatives to support this Proposition to ensure the Park is permanently removed from the shortlist and an alternate site for the Hospital is found."