A BID to halt government plans to build a new primary school in the north of St Helier in favour of expanding the Millennium Town Park have been defeated in the States Assembly.
Urging fellow States Members to support his proposition to place the school project on hold pending a full review, Simon Crowcroft said there was a unique opportunity to improve the north of town, and that failing to enlarge the park would show a lack of foresight and vision.
After a debate lasting just over two-and-a-half hours, Mr Crowcroft suffered a resounding defeat, with Members voting by 31-10 against his proposition.
Education Minister Rob Ward said he believed there was a campaign to stop the school happening – it could have opened this year, he added, without the delaying tactics adopted by Mr Crowcroft which had “undermined successive government initiatives” aimed at getting the school built.
“We are spending thousands upon thousands of pounds just to keep schools running in inadequate buildings,” he said.
Deputy Montfort Tadier criticised campaigners who had distributed leaflets describing plans to build a “luxury new school”, when what was intended was a fit-for-purpose, modern facility.
The Constable’s proposition was supported by Deputy Philip Bailhache, who cited Education Department data showing that primary schools would only be at 72% capacity in 15 years time and questioned whether building the new school was in the best interests of the community.
While Deputy Catherine Curtis said there was no alternative site for the school, while Deputy Kristina Moore warned against delay.
“The problem with pausing to search for a better solution is that such pauses can last an incredibly long time – it took 25 years to deliver a new police station and Rouge Bouillon School has been on the list for redevelopment for almost 20 years,” she said.
Refurbishment could take place, Deputy David Warr argued, at St Luke’s, Springfield and La Passerelle, the existing schools that would be replaced by the new facility at Gas Place. He said there were potential options, including Philip Le Feuvre House in La Motte Street, where temporary school facilities could be sited while this work took place.
Deputy Sam Mézec said that a delay would risk “creating another farce wasting millions of pounds” and urged Members not to let the Constable get away without being clear about what his alternative was to building the new school.
