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The outgoing Chief Minister has confirmed he will not issue final compulsory purchase orders for parish-owned land leading up to Overdale – instead, leaving the decision to the next Environment Minister.
Senator John Le Fondré, who currently holds all ministerial powers until a new Council is elected, has written to St. Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, after the parish head expressed concern about orders to buy parish land which landed on his desk a day before last Wednesday’s election.
Specifically, Mr Crowcroft has for an extension of the eight-day response deadline that came with the orders to acquire 11 areas of parish-owned land, including the Jersey Bowls Club, parking around the People’s Park, and Gallows’ Hill off Westmount Road.
He said more time would be needed in order to hold a Parish Assembly to discuss the £5.2m offer, which was more that a million pounds less than a £6.5m offer made last December.
In reply to his letter to the Chief Minister, Senator Le Fondré said: “I can confirm that, in my capacity as acting Minister for the Environment, I am not minded to issue the final notice and that, accordingly, this matter will be one for the new Minister to determine.”
He added: “As you will be aware, to date, no land or property has been bought for the hospital project through compulsory purchase.
"Most of the land required for the new hospital has already been acquired through negotiation.
“I would hope that the Parish land could also be completed through negotiation which has always been the preferred route."
He continued: “For completeness, as has been previously stated, a rule of thumb estimate for delaying the project has been estimated at c. £100,000 per day (approximately £36.5m per year).
“Furthermore, any cancellation of the project will require a new States decision and a recognition that the potential loss to the taxpayer of the only scheme to have planning permission will be many more tens of millions of pounds (in abortive costs as well as the cost of a new application, which based on past experience is likely to be a very significant sum of money).
“This therefore demonstrates why such decisions have been taken, with the public interest clearly in mind.
“Separately, I can also confirm that work is due to start on the old Les Quennevais School site.
“The project has always identified this site as the decant solution for Overdale and following the obtaining of planning permission, contracts have been exchanged.
“You will recall from your time on the Regeneration Steering Group that we have agreed to ensure proper consultation takes place with the Parish of St Brelade over the long-term future of the site.
“It was my anticipation that this would form a significant focus for the next RSG, such that construction could be ready to start on that site for a housing and community scheme (for example), as soon as Overdale has been completed.”
Former Chief Scrutineer Deputy Kristina Moore, who is in pole-position to become Jersey's first female Chief Minister, has said she wishes to appoint an Assistant Minister with responsibility for carrying out a review into the Our Hospital project, to be completed by the end of October.
Meanwhile, her challenger, Deputy Sam Mézec, says he intends to follow the Reform Jersey manifesto. On the future hospital, it concedes that the Overdale plans are not "ideal", but that the Government should not spend more money going back to the drawing board.
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