OPEN LETTER: “We simply cannot afford such deliberate extravagance”

Tuesday 08 December 2020

A reader has shared his letter to all States Members, urging them take a "fresh and detailed look at all the additional costs" associated with the Overdale hospital project.

"I am addressing this plea to all elected officials.

Regardless of how each of you have voted on any previous proposals relating to the choice of Overdale Hospital as the “preferred site” for the Island’s new hospital, I would urge you all to take a fresh and detailed look at all the additional costs which are now emerging in respect of this choice/project.

I would also invite you all to challenge what appear to be entirely “discretionary” elements of potential overspending. It is astonishing to me how a circa £500 million project on any other site is now generally accepted to be a circa £800 million certainty.

As public discussion; press reports; and detailed examination of all the published evidence unfolds, it has, I think, become worryingly clear that the likely cost of repositioning the existing Westmount Road (and related land and property acquisitions by the Government of Jersey) could ultimately reach a figure in the order of something approaching £300 million. This is a staggering amount which should and can be readily avoided. 

Pictured: Westmount Road.

It is particularly worrying that some of these additional costs are not even given any mention or prominence in the official papers. It is troubling also that all the owners of 9 private houses on Westmount Terrace (a private lane running East from the gates to the Crematorium) have apparently already been approached ‘behind the scenes ‘ on behalf of Government to sell each of their properties (under threat of compulsory purchase if needed). This raises serious concerns about the level of transparency and proper scrutiny being applied to this whole project.

It will be obvious to you all that circa £300 million could be applied much more sensibly to meet other pressing needs on the Island. For example, more much needed Social Housing or perhaps a scanner facility (to save many islanders having to be flown off Island for treatment). Frankly, the list of possible other uses is endless.

Pictured: “Circa £300m could be applied much more sensibly to meet other pressing needs on the island.”

In my opinion, the proposed work on Westmount Road is an extravagant discretionary waste of taxpayer money. In the shadow of the Covid19 pandemic, which no doubt will saddle the Island with significant debt obligations for very many years, we simply cannot afford  such deliberate extravagance.

When this matter next comes back to the States for discussion (later this month or very early next year) do please give these issues your full attention. Please do not allow haste or collective impatience to be the enemy of you all making smart decisions on behalf of all Island taxpayers (including each of you).

Let me close by making clear that I have no objection to a new hospital. As a taxpayer I do however strongly object to wasting such an extravagant amount of money in continuing to pursue Overdale as the only option (apparently at any cost).

Thank you in advance."

Frank Dearie
Westmount, St. Helier