To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
States sites would be cheaper and better
Share this:
From Roy Travert.
I WOULD like to publically register my disapproval, condemnation and objection to our Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf’s latest proposed spend of taxpayers’ money.
The buying of Lime Grove House, which sits on Green Street roundabout, is another example of a treasury minister totally out of touch with the electorate and taxpayers of Jersey.
To insist on moving the police facilities presently held at Rouge Bouillon, with an estimated reduction in space of 30,956 square feet, makes no sense at all. We already own the properties that they are using, so why should the taxpayer have to shoulder the financial burden of another £20 million pounds to move to facilities that are not purpose-built and will need extensive modifications to become fit for purpose?
It is my understanding that negotiations have been ongoing for the past year for the purchase of this site. This was happening when Senator Ozouf was proposing an increase in GST to five per cent, with the resultant financial impact on the public of Jersey. Lest we forget, £248 million was wiped from States funds in 2009 which has had a dramatic effect on the financial stability of our government.
This has had the effect that we are now being forced to accept the financial failings from Senator Ozouf in increased taxation. This is taking more money out of our pockets for Senator Ozouf’s bad fiscal management. He was in charge of Economic Development and is now in charge of Treasury – on both counts he has failed the electorate of Jersey.
It is common knowledge that this building has been empty for years and the developers could not sell it. It is highly questionable as to why taxpayers’ money is now being used to buy this property when, in many people’s eyes, it is a red herring and not worth buying. Unless, that is, you are the developers receiving public money for a site you could not sell for the past decade.
It is simply a slap in the face to ordinary working class people to see even more of our money squandered on a luxury ‘must have’ item, rather than spent on more important matters. Considering the States have billions of pounds worth of property, I find it hard to believe that a suitable alternative could not have been found within its portfolio to house the new police station and peripherals.
The former Jersey College for Girls springs to mind as an ideal site that the States already owns and which could have been used for this purpose. It now has an estimated value of £6 million – a fraction of the cost of Lime Grove House. Why is this not being looked at as an alternative venue?
I would urge States Members to debate this matter in the States Chamber and find out why the spending of so much public money, at this time of financial austerity, should go ahead without the approval of the States and consultation with States Members themselves.
Finally, it is galling, to say the least, to have had to endure not only the recent rise in GST and Jersey’s extremely high cost of living but to then see the architect of the increase, Senator Ozouf, spend taxpayers’ money in such a flippant manner. This latest financial debacle is an affront to decent hard-working members of the public who are constantly being told to tighten their belts – and then see the Treasury Minister spend another £20 million.
Related