Residents meet the experts to discuss living in St Helier

  • Workshops held to discuss the Future of St Helier
  • Issues raised included increasing the amount of green space, making town streets more pedestrian-friendly and improving the standard of accommodation
  • How would you like to see St Helier improved? Have your say below

INCREASING the amount of green space, making town streets more pedestrian-friendly and improving the standard of accommodation were among a number of issues raised at the Future of St Helier workshops over the weekend.

Representatives of business, community and environmental groups gathered on Saturday for a series of workshops which focused on travel and transport, urban living and environment, and identity and community.

Environment Minister Steve Luce, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft and a number of St Helier Deputies were also present for the discussions.

The workshops, which were followed by drop-in sessions yesterday, are the first consultations held since the Council of Ministers announced that St Helier was to be a priority in the Strategic Plan, which guides major policies for the next three years.

Deputy Luce called the weekend events a ‘turning point’, adding: ‘We’ve had lots of input and we now have a great deal of information to take away and process.

‘We have had so much feedback over the weekend, particularly in relation to concerns about parking, green spaces and standards of accommodation, which we can now take to the next stage.’

Mr Crowcroft was similarly upbeat, saying: ‘The combination of workshops and drop-in sessions have been very successful and a lot of ideas have been put forward.

‘Many of the priorities that people have are consistent with the States’ priorities, and that in itself is really useful.

‘People in particular want town to be a much easier place to move around, as there’s still an imbalance between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

‘There has been talk of a relocation of road space to create a more democratic town where everyone can move around safely and conveniently.’

Constable Simon Crowcroft at the workshopHopkins Architects' proposed plan for a winter garden dome at Esplanade Square

AS part of the Future St Helier project, one of the first steps will be a reassessment of what has come before – what plans were previously drawn up, what has been achieved under those schemes and what aims are still relevant.

The so-called masterplans have not enjoyed great success over the years, with few leading to concrete results. In recent years designers have come up with:

  • The St Helier Urban Character Appraisal (2005) Willie Miller Urban Design
  • A Strategy for the Future Development and Regeneration of St Helier (2007) EDAW
  • The Esplanade Quarter Masterplan (2011) Hopkins Architects
  • The North of Town Masterplan (2011) Hopkins Architects[/breakout]
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