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The Government has only pledged to safeguard a third of the 157 parking spaces on land it wants to buy from St. Helier for the new hospital highway – with more than 100 set to be lost.
Officials working on the Our Hospital project last week put forward a deal to the Parish - £6.5m for parcels of land, plus a string of other pledges, including 'land swap' for a new home for Jersey Bowling Club at Warwick Farm (or £700,000 plus £1m to build a new premises, should Warwick Farm not work out).
But, if parishioners agree to the Government’s offer at next Wednesday’s Parish Assembly meeting, they’ll also be approving the loss of around 100 car parking spaces from car parking zones at Inn on the Park, People’s Park and Peirson Road, and the associated revenue they generate for the Parish.
The trio of parking zones are the costliest parcels of land the Government needs to acquire, valued at £3.5m, £1.91m and £1.01m respectively.
Overall, 157 parking spaces and 32 motorbike and cycle spaces - which together bring in £170,000 each year for the Parish - sit on the land that Government wishes to buy.
However, the Government has only pledged to safeguard around a third (52) – the majority of which are residential.
The proposed ‘Heads of Terms’, which will be signed if parishioners give their approval, gives the following estimates of how parking space numbers will change:
The agreement adds: “Of the totals above, reasonable endeavours will be used to reprovide the 7 Resident and 10 of the motorbike parking spaces that cannot be accommodated within the land lost to public carriageway and footpath.
“The car parking is likely to be in Elizabeth Lane Car Park as an interim solution (once construction of these highway works commence) and then within Patriotic Street Car Park once the new hospital is open, subject to the approval of Minister of Infrastructure and agreement of the Parish. The motorcycle parking and cycle parking will be at a location with the approval of the Minister of Infrastructure and agreement of the Parish.”
This morning, the Roads Committee was due to hear a presentation from the Government about their final vision for the new hospital highway up Westmount Road.
Pictured: A Parish Assembly meeting will be held to decide if the deal should go ahead in just under two weeks' time.
Next Wednesday at 19:00, a Parish Assembly will be held where votes will be cast.
St. Helier's Procureurs, who are responsible for looking after parish finances, say they’re not recommending parishioners vote either way.
They noted, however, that the deal may be better value than what would be achieved under compulsory purchase.
INSIGHT: The FULL details of the '£6.5m' St. Helier hospital deal - Express digs into the detail of the deal, and shares the proposed 'Heads of Terms' in full...
Gov makes £6.5m bid for parish land
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First I would question that the land is actually owned by the Parish. Yes the road might be but the land underneath is part of Jersey's landmass and therefore must be owned by the Island.
Second the loss of parking spaces is unacceptable. How can this be allowed? Is the government going to compensate residents if they need to dispose of their cars? They certainly should.
Next this scandalous threat by the government that if the road and land is not sold willingly they will purchase it by Compulsory Purchase. This is tantamount to blackmail.
One wonders if we still actually live in a democracy?
Finally we have the ridiculous situation whereby only Saint Helier residents are allowed to attend a meeting about the road. The road is used by all Island residents so we should all have a say in my view.
What a dilemma.
I suggest the whole project is abandoned and the hospital relocated in a proper place free of these constraints.
St Saviours Hospital or Warwick Farm are the more suitable.
you can ONLY read "Express digs into the detail of the deal, and shares the proposed 'Heads of Terms' in full." ~ IF YOU PAY monthly subscription.
The LOSS of 100 parking spaces is IDIOTIC however this is the Government of Jersey = should not expect anything else.