Fresh plans for the £466 million hospital project were submitted last month after the initial application was rejected by Environment Minister Steve Luce due to concerns over the scale and height of the project.
Independent planning inspector Philip Staddon – who recommended that the original plans be rejected – has been commissioned
to carry out a further inspection of the new proposals.
Deputy Russell Labey has now asked, via a proposition lodged with the States, for the terms of reference for the inquiry to be widened to allow Mr Staddon to review other site options if ‘deemed necessary and appropriate’.
Under the current brief, Mr Staddon has been asked not to look at alternative sites.
Deputy Labey described this as ‘buying a dog but barking oneself’ and that an inspector of Mr Staddon’s ‘experience and qualification’ should be able to consider other sites if the current plans divert too much from the Island Plan.
In the report accompanying his proposition, Deputy Labey says: ‘Such a
stipulation does nothing to restore public confidence in a process that has, so far, fallen short of their expectations and – as was demonstrably evident during the course of the recent election – remains mired in scepticism and suspicion.’
The Deputy adds that his proposition does not require Mr Staddon to review alternatives, only gives him the freedom to do so should he deem it ‘in the public interest’.
Deputy Labey adds: ‘If he considers that such alternatives have not been sufficiently considered, then the terms of reference should allow his report to identify what further information should be required. That is all.’
The inquiry is due to begin on Monday 17 September. Residents, businesses and organisations are being invited to share their views of the scheme with the inquiry.
Deputy Labey’s proposition is due to be debated on Tuesday 26 June.
