Town Deputies pledge to fight People’s Park Hospital after Planning list the site

Thursday 21 January 2016

St Helier Deputies have united to fight any move to build the new hospital on People’s Park – and they say that Planning’s decision to list the site as being of “special public and heritage interest to Jersey” strengthens their cause.

At a meeting last night, politicians representing St Helier constituencies agreed that they would work to stop ministers pressing ahead with what is widely-believed to be their preferred choice for a new £400 million hospital.

Deputy Jackie Hilton said that campaign groups including the West of Town Community Association, Waterfront Action Group and Save Our Shoreline had also attended – and that a public meeting was planned for next month.

It has also emerged that the People’s Park site was formally given grade three listing by the Planning department last week.

The listing doesn’t mean it’s not possible to build on the site, but it does add a further layer of Planning protection.

Deputy Hilton said that the group that met last night – including politicians with very different political views – were united about fighting any move to build the hospital on the park.
She said: “We don’t want them to build on our green space.

“A review was carried out in 2008 and St Helier was seen as not having enough amenity space for residents.

“The strong message coming out is that St Helier does not have enough green space as it is, so don’t think that you can take a much-loved park from us – it’s not good enough to say that you will replace it.

“We are looking for more green space, not to build on what little green space we have.”

The listing of the park means that it has an extra level of legal protection that the gov.je website describes as being intended to “make sure that the essential character of the asset is protected through the planning system, to ensure that it can be enjoyed by future generations”.

The grade three listing is the second-lowest level of protection under the law.

According to listing criteria, it applies to: “Buildings and places of special public and heritage interest to Jersey, being important, good quality examples of a particular historical period, architectural style, building type, or archaeological site; but with alternations that reduce the special interest and/or have particular elements worthy of Listing.”