PLANS to invest up to £12m to revamp the town markets will ‘not see the light of day’ according to Jersey’s Infrastructure Minister, who has hinted that the money could be better spent elsewhere.
St John Constable Andy Jehan told the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel that the department did not have a “money tree” and that there were other issues – such as improving the Island’s drainage network and resurfacing roads – that were “more important”.
He made the comments after panel chair Deputy Hilary Jeune asked about work to improve the Central and Fish Markets, and whether there were any “long-term plans of significant capital projects”.
Mr Jehan responded: “I’ve seen plans which would cost up to £12m, but I really think that we need to spend considerably less than £12m on the markets.”
He added that he could think of “many other places I can spend £12m that’s needed”.
Deputy Jeune said the panel was not aware of the figure and asked if the plans were “coming soon”.
Mr Jehan replied: “They won’t see the light of day if I’m minister”.
Later in the hearing, the Infrastructure Minister reiterated that the department was “restricted by the amount of money we have got to invest”.
“If we had a money tree then perhaps we would invest £12m in the market, but we don’t have a money tree and if you asked me whether drains and resurfacing of roads is more important than spending £12m on the market I’d say yes every time,” he continued.
“It doesn’t mean to say we don’t need to make the markets safe, make sure they are decorated – we need to do something with the floor of the markets because that’s in need of repair – but I think we probably need to spend about £2m rather than £12m.”
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Jehan added he was referencing work “done under the previous government”.
“We certainly need to invest in the markets but I don’t think we need to invest to that extent,” he added.
He also said he believed there were “alternative schemes that would deliver much more public benefit”.
His comments come around a year-and-a-half since Kristina Moore’s government outlined plans to make the Central Market “the jewel in the crown of St Helier”.
