Could Liberation Square and the Weighbridge become one?

Monday 12 February 2018

With Liberation Square in desperate need of a revamp, the Minister for Infrastructure has revealed his department is considering the possibility of combining it with Weighbridge Square.

Deputy Eddie Noel said he would have liked for the Jersey Development Company (JDC) to wait before selling part of the Weighbridge in light of this project.

The JDC owns all of Weighbridge Square, which has been on a 150-year leasehold from the Public of Jersey since 15 February 2008. The Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources, St. Peter's Constable, John Refault, approved the sale of the lease for part of Weighbridge Square currently used by the Royal Yacht Hotel for their alfresco dining area for £975,000. The JDC explained that while the area sits on the Weighbridge, it isn't open to the public, unless customers of the hotel, as it is used in a private capacity by the Royal Yacht. 

Deputy Noel explained during a quarterly meeting with the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel that when the JDC was set up, it was agreed that the Bus Station, the Waterfront Hotel (Radisson) freehold, the JEC sub-station and the Weighbridge Square should be returned to States’ ownership. The decision was made to ensure that "the Public of the Island could enjoy the income generated by these assets."

Pictured: The JDC is planning to sell the lease of part of Weighbridge Square used by the Royal Yacht for their al-fresco area.

Deputy Noel said: "Hopefully the Weighbridge Square will come back to the States at some point." He then stated that the part of the square the JDC is looking to sell the lease for is neither a strategic asset or a strategic part of the square, and described it as a "minor piece of land." He however added he wouldn't have approved the sale. He said: "We use buildings to provide services to the public and if it is not needed for that or if it is not a facility used by the public, then it is not strategic. We don’t need to hold properties for the sake of holding properties.

"In my own point of view, I would have liked it kept for a little bit longer until we decide what we are going to do with Liberation Square and Weighbridge."

St. John's Constable, Chris Taylor, has also opposed the sale and has published a proposition to get the Treasury Minister to rescind the decision. 

Pictured: Liberation Square is falling into a state of disrepair. 

The Minister for Infrastructure explained that his department is contemplating combining the two. He said: "We are  trying to decide whether it is suitable. It is a piece of work we are about to embark on to gauge the  feasibility of what we are doing. 

"Liberation Square has been there for 22 years and needs refurbishment, it is getting tired. Before we spend any money on there we need to look at the wider picture and see if there is a manner of combininig the two."

Last summer, islanders took to social media to share their outrage at the state of Liberation Square. They criticised the staining on the steps, broken tiles, weeds and litter as well as the state of the central water pool surrounding the Liberation statue.