TTS say we’re stuck with this view until 2050

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Havre des Pas residents better get used to views of the incinerator – it’s going to take about 35 years for trees planted to hide it to grow big enough to block it from view.

When the incinerator was built, TTS promised that they would grow trees so that it would not be an eyesore for Havre des Pas residents, and that promise became part of the Planning permit.

But now it seems that the conditions in the area – with winds and salt water blowing in from the sea – are creating some growing pains for the trees, and that they’re not growing quick enough.

At a recent Scrutiny hearing, the Assistant Minister let slip that it would take 35 years for the trees to block out the building, but now the minister in charge has a new plan.

“To be fair, it’s a high building,” said TTS Minister Eddie Noel.

“For the trees to grow to cover it, it’s going to take a long time. My personal view is that we should be doing other things – projecting images on to it and using lighting and colour.

“We can’t plant mature trees there because they won’t survive in that environment.”

But St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft says that the wool has been pulled over residents’ eyes – they were promised that the building would be hidden when it got the go-ahead from Planning.

“I will fight any move to try to shine more light on the building, they need to find another way to keep their promise and hide it,” he said.

“It’s not good enough. They need to sharpen their pencils and come up with something.”