Constable claims 'Planning are treating town residents as second-class citizens'

Saturday 09 July 2022

St. Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft has hit out at Planning for what he describes as its "inconsistent and nonsensical parking policy" which he claims ignores agreed States’ decisions and treats town residents as "second-class citizens".

Constable Crowcroft says his comments were prompted after planners told developers who are keen to build flats on the site of a 60-space car park in lower Green Street that there was no need to include parking spaces in the scheme.

It is advice the developers are ignoring.

Seymour Hotels want to build 27 apartments – 19 one-bed and eight two-bed properties – on the site. Their current scheme also includes lower-level parking for 37 vehicles, 36 bicycles and nine motorcycles.

The plans recently went on show at the nearby Ommaroo Hotel in accordance with new conditions laid down in the Bridging Island Plan which stipulate there needs to be a public consultation process for any development which consists of ten or more properties.

Pictured: Developers keen to build on former hotel car park in Green Street.

The architects behind the scheme say there was a steady flow of visitors keen to see the plans, chat to the developers, and discuss any concerns.

Feedback was generally good, and those hosting the exhibition say nearby residents made many positive comments and some suggestions that they might include in a slightly modified scheme. They say it will be at least a year before any work begins.

The developers say they appreciate the scheme will cut the number of car parking spaces available, but that they have attempted to minimise the loss. They acknowledge there is a shortage of car parking spaces in the area, and that people living in the street should, where possible, be entitled to have somewhere to park a car.

Pictured: St. Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft.

Their comments echo those of Constable Crowcroft. But, he says his calls for more parking, not just for Havre des Pas residents, but for those living elsewhere in St. Helier, seem to be "constantly falling on deaf ears". He has now promised to ramp up his campaign.

"Once again, planning are treating St. Helier residents as if they were second-class citizens," says the politician with a note of despair.

"People living in town have just as much of a right as anyone else to have a car, and it is up to the States to help provide parking spaces, or to insist they are included in any new developments," he adds.

But Constable Crowcroft argues it is not only people living in the area that are suffering from a lack of parking spaces.

"It’s a problem for everyone. People are put off coming to the area for a drink or a meal or even to just visit the beach or swimming pool because there is nowhere to park. It’s strangling businesses in the area."

Pictured: The parking situation is likely to get worse with more developments currently at the Limes, Willow Court, and La Collette.

And, he acknowledges, given other developments nearby, the Havre des Pas situation is likely to get even worse.

Andium Homes have demolished and are replacing the La Collette low-rise flats with more properties, and at the other end of the street near the tunnel, the Limes and Willow Court have also been levelled and are awaiting development.