Senator Lyndon Farnham said that he, and the hospital project team, ‘remain committed’ to providing detailed information about the plans once they are available.
Last week, a parish assembly was held after parishioners lodged a requête – an old legal device invoking a parish assembly – proposing that the parish should temporarily block the purchase of its land and bar any ongoing construction work in relation to Westmount Road, which is the approved access route for the hospital project, from taking place.
After the 205 residents who took part voted overwhelmingly in favour of both propositions, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft wrote to Senator Farnham confirming that the parish was following through on the decision, and formally withdrew permission for any work relating to the hospital project to take place on parish land ‘until further notice’.
Senator Farnham said: ‘We note the outcome of the St Helier parish assembly meeting and undertake to continue to work closely with the parish.’
Some of the parishioners who spoke at the assembly questioned why there had not been detailed drawings or computer-generated schematics provided for the access route, especially after visual graphics had been provided for the new skate park project also being debated by States Members.
‘Following the States Assembly approval of Westmount Road as the primary access route for our new hospital at Overdale, work has now begun to design the preferred access route, and the main hospital buildings,’ said the Senator.
‘We remain committed to providing further detailed information, including drawings and schematics, as soon as they are available.
‘We also remain committed to fully engaging with Overdale residents, along with all other interested parties, before the planning application is submitted.’
