Debbie Vautier, R Fresh: Five things I would change about Jersey

Friday 10 February 2017

While some may say, “you are what you eat,” new local lunchtime outlet founder Debbie Vautier isn’t a Jersey Bean. But nor is she someone who doesn’t 'carrot all' about the Island she now calls home.

This week, the Colomberie-based smoothie extraordinaire tells Express how she would R Fresh-en up our shores by scrapping seaweed and rejuvenate tourism by teaching an Old Harbour new tricks.

1. Grass routes for active bodies and active minds

I would change the fact that there are primary schools on this island that are surrounded by greenery yet do not have a playing field. We want active and healthy children and need to prioritise their wellbeing inside and outside the classroom. Our children are the key to the future of this island. I'm a firm believer of active bodies and active minds. Mental health affects children just as much as adults, so the NSPCC should go into schools and give talks to teachers and children to promote quick and early intervention of mental health issues.

2. Give us who we want, from where we want

Although I believe in employing locals, Jersey needs immigration. We have an ageing population that will need supporting, so the employment licence rules should be relaxed. The Jersey States should not make it so difficult to employ essential employees that are simply not available here. This is stifling local business and preventing growth. It creates a theme of poaching from other firms which forces wage increase thereby inflating the prices.

3. Improve A to B travel on a 9x5 island

There are too many cars for such a small space. I know habits are the hardest things to change in life, but unfortunately that's why most of us use our cars far too much. I'm guilty of driving to work every day and to change that will be practically impossible! However, a combination of things could be done to help.

The States should subsidise bus fares to encourage tourists to use the bus rather than hire a car, and to encourage locals to leave the car at home. They could also build cycle tracks where they can - and where they can't, construct hard shoulders or lay-bys where a cyclist could allow a motorist to overtake. Although not suitable for a full cycle track, they could build into the fields to create safe over taking points for people driving cars who may be in a rush on Mont Felard, for example.

I'd also like a 'Park and Ride', maybe in the car boot field near Millbrook. It would be a great cheaper option for commuters, and a way to encourage shoppers into the centre knowing car parking spaces will be available. We are losing parking spaces but registering and driving more cars - something needs to change!

Pictured: Ms Vautier, co-founder of new healthy eating café R Fresh (pictured), confesses to driving into work each day.

4. Adios, Normans... and hola to alfresco dining!

I would relocate all the buildings on Commercial Buildings and replace the front part with bars, restaurants, and alfresco dining overlooking the Old Harbour. I would give pedestrians the entire road to the corner, and make a new road behind them where the stores currently exist. I feel that the builders merchants working just beside the Old Harbour are a current waste of what most town and cites use as their main attraction. An Old Harbour attraction could provide areas for both tourists and locals to have a more interesting experience on our island.

5. Lettuce be innovative with the green stuff blighting our bay

I would change the shape of the Island, as all the technology seems incapable to remove the problem of sea lettuce in St Aubin's Bay. Looking at what land the Island has reclaimed over the years, we seem to have changed the tidal flow so a redirection plan of the Island reclamation maybe the answer. If not, maybe we can find an animal with and appetite for the green stuff or turn it into biofuel... or we could try dehydrating it to make some healthy snacks to sell at R Fresh!