- Deputy Andrew Lewis has complained that First Tower is being ignored – while other areas of St Helier are revamped
- He has asked ministers questions about speed bumps, street cleaning and maintenance
- Deputy Lewis says that it is a ‘forgotten district’ which is used by thousands of Islanders every day
- Is First Tower a forgotten district? Take part in our poll below
FIRST Tower is ‘a forgotten district’ which is being ignored as ministers focus on revamping the rest of St Helier, according to a politician who represents the area.
Earlier this year the Council of Ministers announced plans to make regenerating town a priority in the Strategic Plan, a document which sets States policy.
But Deputy Andrew Lewis says that ministers are only focused on other areas of town, and claims that there has been ‘a ministerial failure to respond to questions’ about the cleaning, maintenance and safety of the district.
He says he has been left frustrated by a lack of response to questions he has put to Transport Minister Eddie Noel in the States regarding issues in the area, and he has now called for a focus on First Tower.
‘Every day thousands of Islanders drive through First Tower on their way to and from St Helier without paying much attention to the state of the pavements, drains and littering that they would see if they were to walk around the area,’ said Deputy Lewis.
‘First Tower is a densely populated part of the Island and is very much the gateway to town for people travelling from the west. To see litter strewn across the pavements, drains blocked and cars using certain roads as rat runs is incredibly saddening.
‘All I want to know is how often these streets are cleaned and where the responsibility lies for ensuring the cleanliness and safety of these roads.’
Last month Deputy Lewis asked Deputy Noel, both in the States and in writing, where the responsibility lies for cleaning and safety in large sections of St Aubin’s Road. He also asked whether ministers would support residents’ proposals for speed bumps on Mont Cochon and in St Andrew’s Road.
Deputy Lewis says that he has received no response to any of his queries. He added that while he understands that ministers are busy, he feels it would be beneficial for them to take time to look at the problems in First Tower for themselves.
‘While I understand that the ministers have a great deal on their plate, that is not an excuse for ignoring the environment in which thousands of Islanders live,’ he said
‘There is a great deal of political talk about other areas of town at the moment, and I believe First Tower has become a forgotten district.
‘I would like them to spend some time in First Tower and ensure that the problems I have listed for them are seen to. By doing so, the ministers will quickly see that simple acts such as cleaning drains and making pavements safe can improve the lives of people living in the area.’
