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12th January 2021
Deputy David Johnson
Acting Chair
Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel By email
Dear Deputy Johnson ,
Thank you for your letter of 5th January 2021 regarding the new skatepark project. I have pleasure in providing the following answers to your questions:
- Is the Les Quennevais site still an option for the new skate park?
Yes. This site was identified following a desktop site suitability study (below) that was completed in June 2019 and looked at a number of factors. While Les Quennevais sports field scored top overall because it is deliverable quickly, it scored lowest of all options in terms of accessibility for the majority of the island.
- What are the reasons for undertaking a feasibility study for the South Hill site?
This is to ensure the best possible location has been chosen for the £1.3 million project. The primary objective is to provide a modern, accessible and open facility that provides an urban sports environment where users feel safe and supported and can progress to a high standard. Ideally, it should be located close to the highest concentration of potential users so that it is easily accessible for the majority and is well used. In June of 2020 a number of concerns came to light about the Les Quennevais site from States Members, the Connétable of St Brelade and senior officers at the IHE Department.
While there is demand for a skatepark facility in the west of the island by people who live in the area, there is also a need for skating facilities in St Helier, the island's largest population centre, so it was agreed that the South Hill site should be reviewed in more detail before a planning application is submitted.
- Will a planning application be submitted for the Les Quennevais site? If yes, why when a feasibility study is being undertaken for the South Hill site?
The aspiration is to provide high quality centres where skaters, BMXers, rollerbladers and scooters can learn and improve their skills. The intention has always been to provide a main hub for urban sports in Jersey, and for there to be additional skate-friendly areas across the island.
Options for St Helier have always been part of the project because of the large number of skaters in town who need a facility they can assess easily. The consideration now is not whether the facilities are in St Helier or in St Brelade, but how facilities might most effectively be built to meet the needs of all islanders for the best value for money.
Extra consultation with stakeholders is now taking place to see what could be provided at South Hill cater for them. This will be alongside a skate park at Les Quennevais not instead of it, and the details will be clarified in forthcoming planning applications.
There is no change in the Government's commitment to deliver a skate park and satellite in 2021 and this remains the target.
- Are any other sites being considered? No other sites are currently under consideration.
- How much has the project cost to date (please include a breakdown)?
The total project cost to date is £71,723.54. The following table is a breakdown of costs and shows how the costs relate to each of the sites under consideration.
Object Account |
|
| ||
Specialist Skatepark Design Fees | £12,550.00 | £12,550.00 | ||
Planning Consultant Fees | £24,637.00 |
| - | |
Other Consultant Fees | £1,900.00 | £5,600.00 | ||
Site Surveys and Investigations | £4,195.57 | £9,565.06 | ||
Other Capital Expenditure |
| - | £725.91 | |
TOTAL = | £43,282.57 | £28,440.97 | ||
Options exploration is a normal course of action for any project and it would be unreasonable to expect that there would be no expenditure on this. The project team decided to concurrently progress works on the Les Quennevais site whilst undertaking the South Hill Gardens feasibility study. This was to avoid potential delay.
It should also be noted that there had been limited investment in options exploration prior to the South Hill Gardens feasibility study. The original Site Suitability Assessment published in 2019 was conducted as a desk study only for a cost of £1,765.62 and as a result did not explore options through detailed assessments.
- Why is there no mention of the change of location in the Government Plan 2021 – 2024?
The Government Plan only refers to the project funding for the facility to be built by the end of 2021. The additional discussions about the location of the skatepark have only taken place at a political level after the publication of the Government Plan.
- Why wasn't the Jersey Skate Park Association (JSA) consulted about the change of direction?
The feasibility study for South Hill Gardens has been shared with the JSA. Jersey Skatepark Association (JSA) have been actively engaged in all aspects of this project. A positive and collaborative relationship exists with them.
The JSA endorsed the outcome and conclusions for Les Quennevais Playing Fields but at the time this was the only option that would allow a skatepark to be built as quickly as possible. The JSA have throughout the project stated that there would prefer the location to be in town, closer to the bulk of the population.
Yours sincerely
Senator Lyndon Farnham
Deputy Chief Minister | Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture +44 (0)1534 440628 l.farnham@gov.je