Scrutiny to investigate key hospital access road

Tuesday 29 December 2020

Scrutiny has launched a review into plans to use Westmount Road as the main access to the new hospital site at Overdale and whether the necessary works on the road will fit in within the proposed budget.

As part of the review, the Future Hospital Scrutiny Panel will be assessing the impact on local residents as well as the process that saw Westmount Road picked as the best option.

Under Ministers' plans, which are detailed in a report accompanying their recent proposition, Westmount Road would be kept as a two-way access route to the new hospital. 

The report said that it was their preference because it did not compromise the Emergency Services' ability to access the hospital, and that it provided the most opportunities for promoting sustainable transport solutions.

Pictured: The primary access route has been one of the most prominent questions hanging over the new hospital project.

Having previously pushed back against a move by the Council of Ministers to bring the debate forward from its initial February date, stating the move would not allow enough time for proper scrutiny, the review has now been launched to examine the decision to choose the route out of 70+ options and whether it is the most appropriate.

The report stated Queen's Road had been discounted due to having too many "pinch points" for heavy goods vehicles, which will be used to transport construction materials, while Tower Road was found to be overly narrow, and St. Aubin's Road would have led to the loss of George V Cottage Homes.

The Panel will also aim to determine whether the proposed route maximised sustainable modes of travel and can be completed within the budgeted outline cost of £38.7 million as proposed within the anticipated costs.

Pictured: Earlier this month Chief Scrutineer Senator Kristina Moore pushed back against plans to bring a debate on Westmount Road forward.

They will be holding public hearings with the Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré as well as Deputy Chief Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, the Chair of the 'Our Hospital Political Oversight Group'.

"It’s crucial that we establish any limitations to the access road now before building work commences," Chief Scrutineer, Senator Kristina Moore, commented.

“The Panel needs to provide assurance to all those affected by this proposed option that the 70+ options were assessed appropriately and that the best option is the one that is being put forward.”

Pictured: The proposed route of Westmount would see it kept as a two-way road.

Getting to and from Overdale has been identified as a problem in all previous reports and the subject of what should be the primary access route has been a contentious one over the last few months.

Back in October shortly before Overdale was voted in, residents complained that they had not been properly informed of plans, and had only learnt about them subsequently in the media.

However, in the Council’s new proposal, they claim that by the time Overdale was voted in, “all of the residents of the houses immediately affected by the proposed alterations to Westmount Road were willing sellers," with it listing three residential properties as being affected and a need for the Bowling Club to relocate.

A few days after the debate, it emerged that Wesmount Road would need to be widened to allow construction vehicles to access the site to build the new hospital and that the approval of the Planning Department would be required.

The Scrutiny review is expected to conclude at the end of January, with a debate on the preferred access route scheduled for Tuesday 9 February.