Parish argues against early Overdale demolition

Monday 22 November 2021

St. Helier is urging planners not to approve the demolition of Overdale until the full hospital application has received the green light, over concerns a derelict site could be left behind if the project fails.

In a submission to the Planning Department, the Parish's Roads Committee said: “Determining this application ahead of determination of the Hospital poses a risk of this site being left empty and derelict whilst the Hospital project team try to secure Planning approval.

“The reason for this request is to avoid a situation that occurred with the former Robin Hood, Trinity Road site that was left derelict following demolition of the former properties which was left abandoned for many years and was an eyesore.

“Demolition should only go ahead if Planning permission for the new Hospital is granted.”

If the demolition planning application does receive approval, the Parish is asking that works only take place between 08:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday, with no works on weekends.

They add that deliveries to the site should be “restricted to miss peak times” and that “dust levels and debris on the road due to demolition must be controlled by wheel washing.”

It comes after the Parish called out the Government for refusing to discuss detailed road access plans for the new hospital in public.

The Roads Committee was due to hear about the Westmount highway plans last Wednesday, but Our Hospital project officials tried to get the item moved to the private ‘B Agenda’.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, the Roads Committee explained: "At the St. Helier Roads Committee meeting held on Wednesday 17 November 2021, the Committee expressed its disappointment that the ‘Our Hospital’ team did not present proposals relating to the new hospital’s impact on parish roads as expected. This was due to the fact that the majority of Roads Committee meeting items form part of the ‘A agenda’ that is open to the public, but the ‘Our Hospital’ team had requested the matter be discussed under the ‘B agenda’ which is closed to the public.  

“The Parish’s Roads Committee meetings have been open to the public and media to attend for 20 years. The Constable and Roads Committee believe this public forum to be important in terms of the openness and transparency of parish decision making, allowing the public to observe presentations and listen to the Committee’s discussions, deliberations and decisions. 

“The Committee looks forward to receiving a presentation from the ‘Our Hospital’ team on the ‘A’ agenda at their next meeting on 8th December.”

The Government confirmed that it had submitted its planning application for the new hospital and its associated highway access up Westmount Road – which will involve a wider road including a “sustainable transport corridor” for cyclists and pedestrians – on Tuesday.

However, the plans are yet to appear on the planning website for public scrutiny.

The next planning milestone for the project will come next week on 30 November when it's hoped that proposals to move Overdale's current health services into a revamped Les Quennevais School will be approved.