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2016.01.19
5.15 The Connétable of St. Helier of the Minister for the Environment regarding the results of the Open Space Study conducted in 2008:
Would the Minister confirm that the open space study carried out in his department in 2008 shows that St. Helier is deficient in accessible, convenient, open space and the loss of amenity areas in the town area should be resisted and state what action, if any, is being taken to address this?
The Deputy of St. Martin (The Minister for the Environment):
The open space study that the Constable refers to identified and classified open space provision across the Island and sought to assess its adequacy against suggested standards of the day. On the basis of the population estimate for 2008, St. Helier was considered to have a sufficient supply of open space overall, but with deficiencies in the provision of amenity green space, outdoor sports facilities and play space. This data was used to protect existing public open space in the Island Plan and to identify new opportunities for provision, including the Millennium Town Park.
- The Connétable of St. Helier :
Would the Minister agree with me that if this was based on our population figures for 2008 that the new units of accommodation built in St. Helier since then, plus the thousands of units earmarked for the northern part of St. Helier , suggest that the open space provision is likely to be insufficient?
The Deputy of St. Martin :
The study in 2008 was the first time that open space had been assessed in detail in Jersey relative to existing population levels. It was useful to establish what space we had and where it was located and to begin to assess the adequacy of supply. There have been changes to the level of supply of open space since the study was undertaken and the study did not include, for example, the Millennium Town Park or the public open space on top of the Waterfront car park. Clearly I have to agree with the Constable, population levels will have increased since that study was undertaken.
- Deputy G.P. Southern :
Can the Minister confirm that the protection concerned for those green spaces which were counted in the 2008 survey still exist, including People's Park?
The Deputy of St. Martin :
Protected open space is protected open space. It has not changed. It is still in the Island Plan and it will be continued to be protected until such a time as it deemed unprotected.
- Deputy J.A. Martin:
Surely, would the Minister not agree, it is for his department to update these figures. It is 2008 figures; we are in 2016. Yes, he presumes that there is more people, but there is a slightly bit more open space because we have the Millennium Park. Can he confirm that his department will do this work and bring us an up-to-date figure of the open space per head of population in the capital, St. Helier ?
The Deputy of St. Martin :
The study in 2008 did not engage the public in the availability and quality of public open space, only limited consultation was undertaken with parochial authorities, schools or sports clubs, so I can say to the Deputy it is proposed to undertake a fresh review of the data within the open space study of the town of St. Helier , and I stress the town and not the Parish. This work will help to inform proposals for the protection and enhancement of existing open space and obviously the opportunities for provision and creation of new public open space, which is so important to me.
The Deputy Bailiff :
A final supplementary, Connétable ? The Connétable of St. Helier :
No, thanks, Sir.