Joint Fire and Ambulance HQ still delayed despite £200k spend

Friday 29 December 2023

Jersey is still without a new joint headquarters for the Ambulance and Fire Services due to ongoing work and competing demands for the Rouge Bouillon site – despite over £200,000 being spent on the project so far.

Of the £212,000 spent so far, a total of £43,731 was spent this year on feasibility work, architectural/design work and estimations on ground works, demolition and estimated additional site acquisition.

In 2019, then-Home Affairs Minister Len Norman pledged that work would start on a new joint headquarters by 2022 – but as we enter 2024 the site is no closer to being confirmed, let alone to putting spades in the ground.

Pictured: In 2019, then-Home Affairs Minister Len Norman pledged that work would start on a new joint headquarters by 2022.

The most recent update was revealed in a letter dated 19 December 2023.

Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles wrote to the Chair of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel to provide an end-of-year progress report on the Delivery Plan on her Ministerial Priorities.

In the letter, Deputy Miles wrote: "I am really pleased that, as you will see from my report, the vast majority of items are on track.

"There are two items that have encountered unexpected delays and I believe have discussed the background to both of these with the Panel.

"Overall, I hope you will agree that good progress has been made and join me in commending the very many public servants who work hard to deliver for the island.

"As we look ahead to 2024, our next iteration of Delivery Plans will build on this hard work, and I look forward to continuing our discussions on work across my ministerial portfolio in the new year."

Pictured: Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles said that the new HQ had "encountered unexpected delays".

The new combined Fire and Ambulance Station is 'on hold', according to the document.

The update explained: "Timelines for the project have been amended due to ongoing work on the preferred site location.

"There are necessarily and understandably competing demands for the well-located total site at Rouge Bouillon currently occupied by Rouge Bouillon School, the Fire & Rescue Service, and the former Police Headquarters building (which is temporarily housing the Sea Cadets)."

Jersey Property Holdings has conducted a review of all work undertaken so far, to consider all site options and feasibility work considered, including multi-site options, and evaluated these against key Ambulance and Fire & Rescue Headquarters requirements and school requirements such as response times, community risk assessment factors, training facilities and access to vehicles.

Discussions with the Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs, Children and Education, and Infrastructure took place in September 2023, where the deputies agreed a "new governance approach" of a joint Justice and Home Affairs, Jersey Property Holdings and Children, Young People, Education and Skills project group.

Pictured: The Fire and Rescue Service station at Rouge Bouillon.

Ministers indicated a preference for both Ambulance and Fire & Rescue Services to stay at Rouge Bouillon, within the current site parameters, and for school strategy options to be further considered.

In the first part of 2024, the joint project group will engage with key stakeholders to confirm any areas of compromise and carry out further feasibility work. A combined recommendations paper and business case is planned to go to Ministers at end of March.

Deputy Miles's letter also revealed that a review of the Firearms Legislation has also been delayed due to a prioritisation of fire precautions, while all other priorities are classified as 'on track'.