Comment: Why are we not embracing the Jersey National Park?

Tuesday 05 June 2018

With 2,145 hectares of scenic coastlines to be enjoyed - and a huge potential for the hospitality industry - could Jersey be doing more to promote itself as a 'National Park'?

For Mike Stentiford MBE, the Jersey National Park is "a globally recognised brand that is somehow failing to light the imagination of politicians, the general public and the media."

The Express columnist has been one of only two voluntary members of an interim working group, charged by the States with assembling the criteria and diverse requirements relevant to the official endorsement of the Jersey National Park since 2013. He shared his thoughts...

“Nine years ago, what was described as the largest peaceful demonstration ever seen in Jersey, threaded its way along the entire sands of St Ouen’s Bay. Still proudly remembered by supportive islanders who attended in their thousands, the ‘Line in the Sand’ (pictured) sent a clear message to the States Planning Minister, and to speculative developers, that the steady increase in inappropriate developments along certain parts of Jersey’s coastline was totally unacceptable.

"Whether or not the demonstration was to prove of significant relevance to the collective conscience of the politicians was clearly an unknown quantity at the time. Nevertheless, within two years, following much public consultation and stakeholder workshops, the protective endorsement of a Jersey Coastal National Park was officially accepted and firmly embedded within the Island Plan.

Pictured: One of the videos produced by the Jersey National Park.

"Today, the 2,145 hectares of designated ‘park’ coastline are liable to the closest scrutiny whereby ‘there is a presumption against any form of new development.’ With such a high approval rate, the future all-round potential for nurturing our very own national park appeared to be assured. Yet, while it might be construed as being ‘politically correct’ to have such officially protective measures embedded in the States Planning Office, it’s a total mystery as to why the scores of advantageous benefits relevant in every other national park generally remain so un-embraced here in the Island.

"If four years of continuous inactivity by a working group officially charged to breathe life into the ‘park’ had failed so miserably to complete its mission, then it would be easy to understand the current scale of public disinterest. But, far from showing a likeminded measure of non-enthusiasm, the inadequately supported voluntary working group has stubbornly kept to a relentless schedule and fulfilled every preliminary requirement demanded by the States Assembly.

"Despite producing a logo, a website, management plan and a series of widely viewed and appreciated videos, there’s evidently still a general cautionary misunderstanding as to what national park status actually entails.

 Pictured: Mike Stentiford MBE promoting the Jersey National Park at #WildAboutJersey earlier this year.

"First and foremost, there is an entire raft of boxes that every intended national park has to tick. These include landscape value, biodiversity, history and culture, farming, commerce and opportunities for sporting and leisure pursuits. For one to imagine Jersey failing in any one of these requirements would plainly be to admit that we own little of merit in an island simply bursting with such a diversity of culture and character. 

"One of the most knowing of public concerns relating to such international status is the imaginary restrictions levied on almost every building, social activity and open area of nature conservation existing within its boundaries. While inappropriate developments that refuse to complement their environmental surroundings are rightly deemed as unacceptable, it’s an absolute must that for a ‘park’ to sustain its vibrancy, people need to live, work and enjoy all the non-constraining facilities expected in any other ‘non-park’ environment. 

"And let’s not forget the undoubted value to the island’s hospitality industry? With practically every local tourism-related advertisement featuring dramatically stunning ‘park’ coastline, promoting such scenic qualifications alongside a globally renowned brand should surely be far too good an opportunity to miss.

Pictured: St. Ouen's bay forms the largest park area on the island.

"Above all, recognising the many values of a Jersey National Park firmly establishes the ‘natural capital’ the Island rightly needs to retain and promote. It would be shameful if, having delivered, accepted and endorsed all of the necessary criteria, a lack of both political will and public appetite continues in its failing to recognise the countless benefits such status can bring.

"Few ideals these days offer such a combination of credentials as pride, potential and protection. With such prime attributes, it’s a conundrum as to why we are not collectively welcoming, with wide and open arms, such official national park entitlement.”

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not of Bailiwick Express.