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1240/5(3088)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE BY DEPUTY S. PITMAN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY, 7th NOVEMBER 2006
Question
Would the Minister explain what progress, if any, has been made by his Department to replace the Move-on café in St Helier and inform members what other possibilities, if any, are being considered?
Answer
Over the last 18 months, the youth service has investigated a number of properties in the town area to replace the facilities provided by the Move-on' café. None have been found suitable either for financial or location reasons.
As a result, earlier this year the Youth Service identified the option of converting a lightship to use as a youth facility and, in August 2006, a formal Planning Group was formed to progress the feasibility of this option.
Shortly after this feasibility work began, it emerged that there was a possibility of the Youth Service remaining in its current location, though this is dependent upon commercially sensitive discussions between a number of parties. I hope that these discussions will be concluded very shortly.
The Youth Service has taken the view that there is merit in retaining the current facility for the medium term as it would allow the impact of other significant developments in the area to be assessed and is likely to result in a better solution in the future. If the Move-on café is to be retained in this way, the security of tenure offered by this arrangement means it will be possible to improve the facility through much-needed refurbishment.
In addition to the above, the East of Albert pre-feasibility study will be published on 10th November. If this pre- feasibility study is accepted and the East of Albert development moves forward, provision of facilities for youth will form part of the masterplan for this area.
To ensure that we continue to develop facilities in the town areas, the Youth Service have also been refurbishing part of what is generally known as the Sounds Project (La Motte Street Youth Project). A new Youth Café and the Print Room Lounge will be open to young people in the very near future.