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As with everything in Jersey, the St Aubin scheme is about one thing: making money
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For me, the term conjures up images of unique environments where the sea meet the land, and which are preserved and protected for their significance for mankind, such as the Gower Peninsula in Wales or Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
It is not, as promoted by architect Paula Harding and former Deputy Guy de Faye, reclaimed land with manicured gardens surrounded by flats, offices and retail outlets atop an underground car park.
The shoreline from West Park to Grouville Links has been ruined by development, and with Gorey gradually going the same way, why set about destroying St Aubin? St Aubin is not just another location ripe for the pickings; it is a thriving community with a true ‘village’ atmosphere that is these days rare to find in the Island.
The attractive architecture, quirky cobbled streets, busy harbour and eclectic collection of businesses make it a delight for residents and visitors. It is a place I frequent often, more so in the winter, as it reminds me of a Cornish port in peaceful hibernation before the hordes descend again in the spring.
Without going over the top, it is a charming, relaxing, picturesque and historic location that needs land reclamation like it needs a landslide above the Bulwarks.
The idea of reclaiming land at St Aubin isn’t new. It’s the same old hot chestnut that resurfaces in the run-up to elections, when some engineer at Transport and Technical Services has some spare time on his hands or when the Island Plan comes up for review.
This time it’s the latter, as Messrs Harding and de Faye want to challenge the plan’s embargo on land reclamation.
Their arguments in favour appear convincing on the surface, if a tad familiar. The many benefits they say it will bring include 600 parking spaces, 10,000 square feet of park, a park-and-ride scheme to town, moving the parish hall to Red Houses and turning the old railway terminus building into a boutique hotel, relocating the yacht club and – wait for it – the ulterior and money-spinning motive: 100 flats, shops and offices.
All very seductive and totally unnecessary. But wait – there’s more. This supposed £55 million development will also apparently do the Island a great service by swallowing up thousands of tones of solid waste. Rather than following Planning’s strategy on infilling disused quarries, the two men argue, their scheme will ensure the Island’s economic future and save ‘our treasured green zone land’.
As with everything in Jersey, this is all about making money. Reclaiming land at St Aubin will deliver valuable real estate to be sold or leased at a high price. Filling in quarries, such as La Gigoulande when its working life is over, is designed to restore the landscape to how it was before man exploited it for profit.
We already have a successful infill project that restored an old dump – La Mielle de Morville in St Ouen’s Bay, a fine example of a natural coastal park which exists for everyone to enjoy free of charge.
I know which type of park I prefer.
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