A BID by the Constable of St Helier to secure immediate funding for urban renewal at Havre des Pas has been rejected by the States Assembly.
Simon Crowcroft proposed an amendment to the Government Plan that would have seen £1 million of funding allocated for 2023.
Ministers stated that it would not be possible to start the work in 2023, and proposed that the £1m be spread across the three-year period from 2024 to 2026.
Mr Crowcroft said the proposed amendment by ministers was a case of promising ‘jam tomorrow’ for St Helier, rather than getting on with work that had already been lined up in the Common Strategic Policy.
The Constable said that only one government improvement project – the enhancement of Midvale Road – had taken place between 2018 and 2022.
There were plenty of ‘simple things’ that could be started during 2023 to improve Havre des Pas, he argued – these included extending the coloured lights on the walkway, installing benches and planters, and refurbishing the gardens at South Hill overlooking La Collette.
The amendment by ministers was passed by 33 votes to 15, and subsequently the Constable of St Helier’s proposals, as amended, won unanimous support from the Assembly.
Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet said that schemes to improve the public realm were complex and had to be targeted. The amendment to spread the £1m of investment across three years was a reflection of this, he added.
Deputy Rob Ward said that he was tired of St Helier being used as a ‘vehicle for building more dense housing, probably buy-to-let or unaffordable rental accommodation’.
Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf said Deputy Ward’s speech had listed several grievances but that he felt that the majority of it was ‘a load of nonsense’.
Deputy Sam Mézec said he was concerned that if ministers got their way the funds earmarked for 2024 onwards would not be guaranteed, although Deputy Binet later pledged that he would make sure the funding pledges were kept.
Constable Richard Vibert was one of several members to question why St Helier could not invest some of its own reserves in projects. Mr Vibert claimed that the parish had cash reserves of £13m, although Mr Crowcroft later said the amount in question was £10m, and was necessary to cover costs incurred until rates revenue started to come in.
Deputy Kirsten Morel said Mr Crowcroft was living in a ‘fantasy world’ by thinking the government had resources to carry out work in 2023, but Deputy Montfort Tadier urged Members not to be distracted by ‘a divisive argument between town and country’.
