Public say “no” to People’s Park hospital

Monday 11 January 2016

Islanders have got an emergency on their hands - to save People’s Park from a big hospital takeover.

The decision on where the new £400 million building will go is expected by the end of March but the park looks like the front-runner, despite growing opposition from the public.

They’ve taken to social media to object with some calling for the States to re-vamp the current hospital and others saying it should move to the Waterfront.

Here's what our readers had to say on Facebook: 

• Carla Patrícia Nunes says: "Just revamp the current one. It's on a good location and just needs updating. Stop building everything non-stop. Then, once finance centre is complete and the town office buildings are deserted have another check to see if there is any other suitable option. At present... the best is what we already have."

• Pamela Billington says: "Definitely not Peoples' Park. Revamp current hospital, extending opposite across into Parade with walkway. Most sensible solution!"

• Denise Carroll says: "Absolutely NO! Go for the second option, the Waterfront, which will save time and money as Connetable Crowcroft mentions."

• David Ford says: "Why are they avoiding the reclaimed area which would make a great site?"

Town Constable Simon Crowcroft says it will ultimately be up to St Helier residents to decide, not the Council of Ministers, as the park belongs to the parish.

The Health department has published an update in response to recent speculation, saying that the final decision has not been made, but conceding that the Peoples' Park is a "strong contender".

They say: "A preferred site for Jersey's new hospital will be proposed in the first quarter of this year. The People’s Park is a strong contender but more information is being collated before a final choice is made. If the park were proposed then alternative public space would be provided.

"Jersey needs a hospital that provides safe, sustainable and affordable healthcare services, and that can deal with a larger number of older patients with complex illnesses. The decision on where to build a new hospital for Jersey will be made by the States Assembly."

Overdale, the current site, the Waterfront, and the park are all meant to be sites in the running.

The plan is to build a new hospital with around 280 beds – 50 more than the hospital has now.

If ministers choose to go with the Waterfront, the end result is likely to be what looks like a nine-storey building stretching from The Radisson Blu to the Fregate café.

If the decision is to go with the current site, the costs are likely to rise because the construction project will take 11 years, rather than six on a clear site.