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STATEMENTS ON A MATTER OF OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY
5. The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture regarding the future of Fort Regent
5.1 Senator M.E. Vibert (The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture):
As Members know, the future of Fort Regent has been the source of much debate in recent years. The former Education, Sport and Culture Committee decided that a conservation statement should be prepared setting out the architectural, cultural and historical significance of the site so that this could be taken into account when formulating any plans for development. The statement has now been completed and will be made available to groups who are considering Fort Regent's future. In addition, copies will be sent to all of the organisations that were consulted as well as being sent to the States Greffe, the library and placed on the States' website. I am also arranging, Sir, for copies of the conservation statement to be placed in the States Members' room later this morning and if any Member wishes a personal copy this will be provided by my department. Because this statement is in fact more of a book I have not had all the copies printed-up but if any Member wants a copy please get in touch. Thank you.
The Bailiff :
Does any Member wish to question the Minister on his Statement?
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Fort Regent was obviously a major focus of the St. Helier regeneration plan. Would the Minister state whether the conservation plan and its aspirations fit in with the St. Helier regeneration plan. Secondly, Sir, would he identify the financial implications of the conservation statement and where the money will be coming from.
Senator M.E. Vibert :
The plans for the regeneration of St. Helier by EDAW were informed by the conservation statement and the statement was prepared for us - I cannot remember the exact cost, it was not a great cost. If the Deputy wishes me to inform him I will find out because it was commissioned some time ago but took some time to come to fruition in that it took time to get permission for the photographs used to be published. It is very valuable and I would recommend it for those people interested in Jersey's history; an excellent read, particularly giving the history of the Fort right up to date.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Sorry, Sir, I may not have made myself clear. I did not mean the cost of the report itself, I mean the cost, for example, of any work that is necessary in order that the Fort remains a very pukka heritage building.
Senator M.E. Vibert :
There are a number of recommendations made in the conservation statement, Sir, which will be taken into consideration with any development plans. The conservation statement is what it says on the tin. It is to inform any possible future development of the Fort and to ensure that it is maintained as a heritage site, and that is taken into consideration when looking how it should be used in future.
- Deputy S.C. Ferguson:
To follow-up Deputy Le Hérissier; considering that the ongoing maintenance fund was utilised in the completion of the Mont Orgueil works where is the money coming from for this sort of conservation?
Senator M.E. Vibert :
The Fort Regent money was not raided for the Mont Orgueil works, the Fort Regent upkeep is part of the E.S.C.'s (Education, Sport and Culture) portfolio of properties which have now been handed to Property Holdings and we have a regular maintenance works which we carry out on the Fort.
Deputy S.C. Ferguson:
I am sorry, Sir, I should perhaps have made it clear. It was the Jersey Heritage ongoing maintenance fund. I am sorry, I did not appreciate that Fort Regent was not part of Jersey Heritage's remit.