The St Helier Waterfront Action Group – the same group who led a protest against the flagship States project in June – have called on retired police officers and former members of the Island’s honorary system to help marshal at the event tomorrow.
Demonstrators are due to meet at the Esplanade car park, the site of the Jersey Development Company’s proposed six-office scheme, at 2 pm to march to the Royal Square.
6 – The number of office blocks proposed for the site
200,000 – The amount of office space in square feet former Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf said would have to be pre-let before work could begin. Senator Maclean said this was a mistake
13 – The number of prospective tenants supposedly in talks to move into the development
16,000 – The square footage to be taken by Swiss bank UBS, with the option of a further 7,000 sq ft
1,200 – The number of people who have signed a petition to halt the development
£50 million – The amount the JDC estimate the development could return to the Treasury Department
Chairman of the action group, former Deputy Sean Power, said that the last protest attracted more than 2,000 people, and he was ‘expecting thousands’ tomorrow.
He added that he hoped tomorrow’s event would lead the Council of Ministers to reconsider having a States-owned body carrying out development work on behalf of the Island.
‘In an ideal world the States would ask the JDC’s board to cease the development,’ Mr Power added.
‘The end-game is to try to stop the States risking taxpayers’ funds on this kind of development.’
Meanwhile the JDC yesterday issued a notice in the JEP to explain why it believes the finance centre is an important scheme for the Island.
Although Treasury Minister Alan Maclean has previously said there is no such thing as ‘risk-free’ development, the JDC has continually argued that taxpayers’ money is not being used to fund the project.
The company has also denied it is a speculative development as the build-cost for the first building has been covered by the legally binding pre-let agreements in place, meaning that even if not further tenants sign up, the building could be sold to cover the debt.
