Winds of change

Sunday 13 August 2017

Jersey Met is on the move.

After 65 years of being based at the Airport in what’s called the ‘1937 Building’, it’s been told it’s going to have to quit the site.

The relocation is being forced on the Met because the ‘1937 Building’ is considered an aviation obstacle: it’s claimed it could pose a danger to planes landing and taking off. Because it doesn’t meet these new stringent aviation safety rules and regulation, it’s going to have to be demolished.

Although the arrivals/departure hall is a grade two listed building – some claim a classic art deco example - campaigners failed to convince the Planning Minister to save it.

From September Jersey Met will be based at the Department of the Environment’s Offices at South Hill in St Helier. Some of the tasks formerly done by the Met staff will now be done by airport employees.

Principal Meteorological Officer at Jersey Met, John Searson, said “With the airport taking over full responsibility for the aviation observations later this month there is now no reason why our office can’t be located elsewhere. While we would have preferred to remain located at the airport, the Ports of Jersey have asked us to move out and have not been able to find us an alternative location at the airport.

In the short to medium term all of our services will be operated from our new office. With the States wanting to develop the South Hill site we will have to identify an alternative longer-term office. I am hopeful that a new location can be found for us at the airport, by including us in the Ports of Jersey airport masterplan and development.”