Heritage, finance and the economy

Indeed, as the global markets continue to grapple with the worst recession in living memory, it might seem an opportune time to plan for the anticipated recovery.

But when planning permission was given for the first phase of the controversial Waterfont business district to be built, there must have been a sense of disappointment when it was revealed that Islanders will, once again, be faced with glass-slab office space.

As any regular sea traveller will know, pulling into the picturesque harbours of St Peter Port or St Malo are very different experiences compared with pulling into St Helier.

Sadly, St Helier’s front doorstep fails to inspire. Much has been said about the drab Waterfront buildings and how they would not be out of place in many towns and cities across the UK. And the less said about the missed opportunity of the ‘landmark Waterfront hotel’ the better.

Now plans have been passed to fill in the gaps between our Waterfront and the town with yet more monolithic blocks. Can these really be the only structures suitable for new business space in the 21st century?

A tireless campaigner against despoliation of our coastline, Dave Cabeldu, of the pressure group Save Our Shoreline, has made it clear that he would like to call a halt to the modern ‘improvement’ of St Helier’s front doorstep. But he is making a specific and more limited appeal – that the old granite sea wall and remains of the promenade still visible at the edge of the Esplanade car park should be preserved. And he is emphatic that plans that would see it swallowed by new development would break a promise, made by former Environment Minister Freddie Cohen, that it would not be destroyed.

If politicians, planners and designers, some of whom appear to have little sympathy with or feeling for Jersey’s vernacular architecture, absolutely insist on inflicting more glass and concrete boxes on us, the very least that they can do to compensate is to recognise the undoubted merit in Mr Cabeldu’s modest demand.