Minister forced to stall on major Gas Place development

Friday 26 September 2014

The Environment Minister has been forced to put off controversial plans for a huge development of almost 300 flats on the Jersey Gas site after protests from residents and politicians.

After facing heavy criticism in the States on Wednesday for going ahead with yesterday's Planning hearing to decide applications, Deputy Rob Duhamel faced a packed hall full of neighbours and States Members urging him to reject the plans.

But by deferring the proposition - which had been recommended for approval by his department - the Deputy has left the door open to either approving it or rejecting it behind closed doors in the run-up to the election.

Residents of the Gas Place area - including one young mother who gave evidence while holding her baby - said that Jersey Gas' plans were too big, that they would cause chaos for already scarce parking in the area, that the flats would tower over neighbouring homes and that the lack of amenity space would create social problems.

The hall at Church House next to the Town Church was unusually full for the ministerial hearing, with plenty of politicians and would-be politicians putting in an appearance at the last Planning meeting before the election. But St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft questioned whether the meeting should have been allowed to take place at all, as most political activity has now been closed down in the run-up to the election on 15th October.

Another politician at the meeting said whatever was decided, Deputy Duhamel's insistence on going ahead would scupper his chances of hanging on to the Planning job after the elections.