Deputy Lindsay Ash made the comments after a parishioner raised concerns that families who are due to move into the area following the completion of two major housing developments would not have enough community areas or green space.
Andium Homes, which administers the Island’s social-housing portfolio, has two projects under construction in St Clement: 20 one-bed flats, 89 two-bed flats and 91 three-bed houses are being built at the former Samarès Nurseries site, and 18 one-bed, 44 two-bed and 89 three-bed flats are being built at Le Squez.
St Clement is the second-most densely populated parish in the Island – and is also the smallest.
‘The schools are overly subscribed. We do need new housing, but there’s everything that comes with that, including lots of new children, so you need to have new amenities to provide social space, perhaps even a new school,’ said Deputy Ash, who is also Assistant Treasury Minister.
‘It does all come down to money in the end and I somewhat understand that,’ he added. ‘But you do have to look at the underlying things that go along with it, such as improving bus routes or new social spaces. It doesn’t all have to cost huge amounts of money; there are quick fixes that could be made, such as improved access, new basketball hoops or trees, for example.’
Among the other issues that Deputy Ash would like to see addressed is the lack of sporting facilities in the eastern parishes.
‘The east of the Island has been neglected when it comes to sports facilities,’ he said, adding that he hoped a new swimming pool could be included in future plans for the area.
‘It does have a good site in FB Fields, but I’d like it to be opened up and made more accessible – it could definitely be utilised more.’
