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STATES OF JERSEY
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ST. HELIER WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT: DIRECTIONS TO W.E.B. LTD.
Lodged au Greffe on 2nd August 2005 by Senator R.J. Shenton
STATES GREFFE
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
t o re quest the Policy and Resources Committee, in accordance with Article 22(a) of the Articles of
Association of the Waterfront Enterprise Board Limited, to give directions to that company to refrain from taking any further steps to progress the development of the St. Helier Waterfront until the manner in which the area should be developed has been considered and agreed by the Assembly in 2006 after the constitution of the new States.
SENATOR R.J. SHENTON
REPORT
This proposition is intended to give the public of Jersey time to reflect on decisions being made on the Waterfront. At the present time the authority for the planning of the land reclamation area situated on the southern coast vests with a quango under the title Waterfront Enterprise Board. This Board is answerable to a States appointed Committee who are there to protect the public interest. This Committee has never tested public opinion on the way in which the Waterfront is being proposed to be developed and the Planning Committee has been compromised by conflicts of interest. The history of the area is well-known, the public paid for the reclamation scheme through their taxes and subsequently in an infamous decision allowed ownership of part of the area to be gifted to Les Pas Holdings. I have been examining the transcripts of the States debate together with other relevant material which I believe will show that the States were not in possession of all the facts. Following that decision the States appointed as Chairman of WEB an ex-politician who happened to be a consultant for Dandara. Suddenly the plans for the Waterfront changed to a blueprint for the future which is designed to alter the character of our Island home in favour of the developer and against the public interest. The States itself had changed with the manipulation of the Clothier report which allowed certain senior members to put self interest before public interest. We will deal with this timetable for change in the debate and show how the Island has moved from a fiercely independent Isle to a servant of the U.K. and E.U. policies.
The Les Pas debate was useful for 2 reasons which are extremely sad, the first is that the Crown will not interfere in an Island matter whatever the rights or wrongs and secondly at such a time our leaders are silent. To return to the proposition, I believe that the public own the Waterfront and the States should listen to their views. I believe that there is an overwhelming majority in our beloved Island that is opposed to the plans being touted by developers who are interested in their own profits even if it means changing the face and character of our Island. In the absence of referenda the only way that the public voice can be heard is through the ballot box and we have a perfect opportunity to test their opinion. A vote of no confidence' as suggested by those who objected to the Les Pas settlement is no answer and an injunction would sadly only be in the lawyers' interests. No, the way forward is for members to support this proposition which instructs WEB not to proceed with any plans for the Waterfront until public opinion has been tested and a new States elected. We are within 3 months of an election when the democrats amongst us will stand and be judged on our policies and a new Assembly can then carry out the people's wishes.
Financial and manpower statement
I believe that the public would agree that there are no financial or manpower consequences arising from a short delay.