Fresh sites to be looked at for new hospital?

Wednesday 24 February 2016

The shortlist of potential locations for the new hospital could be about to get longer after the Council of Ministers bowed to pressure and discounted the People’s Park.

Health Minister Andrew Green said that he hadn't ruled out reviewing again some of the 35 options that were rejected as part of the £2.5m original analysis. However, he said that the People’s Park would not be reconsidered.

Sites on the ‘long-list’ that were discounted due to a variety of reasons, such as poor access, planning restrictions and not complying with the Island Plan, include St Saviour’s Hospital, Warwick Farm in St Helier, Fort Regent and fields in Trinity and St John.

A clearly dejected Senator Green was speaking after the Council of Ministers agreed to strike out the People’s Park option – therefore saving the green space from development.

He said: “I have listened to the States after it became clear that most Members wanted the Park option withdrawn. The public roadshow will continue for now with the three remaining sites [the Waterfront, Overdale and developing the existing General Hospital] but there is a possibility that more sites will be added.

“The Council was not divided but there was clearly pressure put on backbenchers by the campaign lobby. I can only apologise to people who did not have the chance to have their say and I also apologise to medical staff who have been let down because they were expecting a decision imminently.

“There were 5,000 Islanders against but 95,000 who had not yet shared their views.”

Yesterday was a dramatic day in and outside the States. Members were due to debate a proposition brought by St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, who was asking for the park to be struck off the shortlist of four sites and the dual-site option.

But seconds before the debate was due to start, the Health Minister stood up to announce that the Council of Ministers was withdrawing its opposition and had agreed to remove the Park from the list.

Meanwhile outside, a large crowd had gathered to support the ‘Save the Park’ campaign. To jubilant scenes, Deputy Jackie Hilton – who had vehemently opposed the park option – came out to tell the crowd of the decision.

“I’m just utterly overwhelmed,” she said afterwards. “I was confident that we would win the debate but I wasn’t expecting it to be over so quickly and decisively; it was a complete bombshell. It shows that people can make a difference and I thank the Council of Ministers for recognising that.”