Former States of Jersey Police Headquarters site at Rouge Bouillon

WQ.266/2021

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY DEPUTY I. GARDINER OF ST. HELIER

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY 1st JUNE 2021 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 8th JUNE 2021

Question

Will the Minister advise –

1. what the objectives were of the feasibility study undertaken by the Justice and Home Affairs department (JHA) in relation to the former States of Jersey Police Headquarters site at Rouge Bouillon;
2. whether the Study considered a combined Fire and Ambulance headquarters;
3. whether the Study made a comparison between the prospect of such combined headquarters and satellite substations around the Island;
4. whether the Study assessed the potential impact on Rouge Bouillon School, and if not, why not;
5. whether the Study assessed the potential impact on the surrounding neighbourhood, and if not, why not;
6. whether the Study assessed the potential for any increase in green infrastructure in the area, and if not, why not; and
7. whether the Study assessed the current levels of traffic in the area, and any potential increase should the Fire and Ambulance Headquarters be located on the site, and if not, why not?

Answer

1. what the objectives were of the feasibility study undertaken by the Justice and Home Affairs department (JHA) in relation to the former States of Jersey Police Headquarters site at Rouge Bouillon;

The purpose of the broad site selection feasibility study was to enable an informed decision to be made regarding the selection of the most appropriate site for the future co-location of the States of Jersey Ambulance and States of Jersey Fire & Rescue Services, to meet the Minister for Home Affairs' and the Justice and Home Affairs Department's strategic objective to develop a new joint facility.

This objective was set to ensure the most cost-effective provision of fire and ambulance emergency response to the island, whilst keeping response times and risk of fatality as low as possible for the greatest number of the island's population.

The broad site selection feasibility study is identified in the Government Plan 2020 – 2023 as an essential enabling piece of work to consider the best use of the site collectively known as Rouge Bouillon' and Rouge Bouillon site outcome' in the Government Plan.

The site has existed in two parts for almost seventy years, having been home to the States of Jersey Police until early 2017 and the location of the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service's headquarters and main fire station since 1954.

The JHA study needs to be considered in tandem with the CYPES study of St Helier Primary Schools which is now underway before a strategic decision about the future of the site can be taken.

2. whether the Study considered a combined Fire and Ambulance headquarters; The study only considered a combined Ambulance, Fire & Rescue Headquarters, as this is the key strategic objective of the project – to bring the Services together on one site in one facility, allowing overheads to be shared and reducing costs of the services without reducing their effectiveness.

3. whether the Study made a comparison between the prospect of such combined headquarters and satellite substations around the Island;

The study took into account the location of the established Western Fire Station, and the use of standby points' by the Ambulance Service in considering community risk and response times, but it did not consider the location or feasibility of establishing any further satellite substations around the Island.

4. whether the Study assessed the potential impact on Rouge Bouillon School, and if not, why not;

The broad site selection feasibility study has established the preferred location, and concept design, for the new Ambulance, Fire & Rescue Headquarters. This is subject to consideration in tandem with the St Helier Primary School review. Once the site for the new Ambulance, Fire & Rescue Headquarters is confirmed, a full and detailed feasibility study will be conducted, and the impact on neighbours to the site will be considered as part of that study.

5. whether the Study assessed the potential impact on the surrounding neighbourhood, and if not, why not;

This would also be considered at full feasibility stage. However, a central part of the site selection feasibility study was the impact of location on response times. At this stage, the current location of the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service's headquarters and main station, among the site options considered, is assessed as providing the fastest and best response times when considering Island-wide risk and, in particular, the critically important fire risk areas of the central and northern St. Helier neighbourhoods.

It is also acknowledged that a benefit of the preferred site identified is that both services are already located in the area, and therefore have a long-established presence in the neighbourhood. Due to the specific operational realities of these services, moving them into a new neighbourhood would be likely to generate some controversy and opposition from any potential neighbours.

6. whether the Study assessed the potential for any increase in green infrastructure in the area, and if not, why not; and

This would also be considered at full feasibility stage.

7. whether the Study assessed the current levels of traffic in the area, and any potential increase should the Fire and Ambulance Headquarters be located on the site, and if not, why not?

This would also be considered at full feasibility stage. Initial consideration to this point was given in the broad site selection study, and it was concluded that the development of a new Ambulance, Fire & Rescue Headquarters on the current Fire & Rescue Headquarters and former Police Headquarters site would not on the face of it lead to an increase in traffic in the area.