The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
To Members of the Scrutiny Committee and Review Panel FOR UPLOAD TO THE WEBSITE.
Regarding the questions which have been raised in connection with the evidence-gathering exercise currently being undertaken by the Review Panel, I can respond as follows (in blue):
- Will you be affected by the proposed access route to Overdale? If so, how?
Yes. My house is to be purchased by the States of Jersey in the near future and will subsequently be demolished to allow Westmount Road to be widened.
- How do you think the access route will affect the homes, leisure facilities and surrounding areas and the overall impact on the landscape?
Having Westmount Road as the primary access route to the proposed Overdale site will be detrimental to all residents living on or near the road, and particularly to the residents of the Castle View and Hillcrest developments who will be closest to the site and will suffer very significant inconvenience during road widening and construction of the new hospital. In addition there will be an increased volume of traffic on Westmount Road once the hospital becomes operational. I understand that the existing plan for the access route has been described by the main contractor as being at present 'no more than a line on a map', but it nevertheless seems clear that what is being proposed will have a very disruptive impact on the Westmount area as a whole, including (but not limited to) levelling and demolition of the upper part of the People's Park and the Bowling Club, impingement onto the Westmount woodland area and partial levelling of the historic headland known as Gallows Hill.
- Do you feel the plans offer easy access using bus, bicycle or walking and take into account appropriate sustainable methods of transport?
I am not aware of any plans to improve the existing bus service (route 19) which currently operates on Westmount Road, but it will need to become significantly more frequent as and when the new hospital becomes operational, or a new service introduced. For those patients and visitors using bicycle or walking, the choice of the Overdale site seems extraordinary given that the 200-foot climb from the People's Park to the top of Westmount is likely to pose significant challenges to anyone with serious health conditions (which almost by definition will mean many or most patients). I have not seen any proposals for appropriate sustainable methods of transport for patients and visitors not having their own means of transport.
- Do you feel the public were given adequate time to properly consider all the information provided by the States to engage properly in consultation?
Absolutely not, and as a member of the Scrutiny Committee you will be fully aware of the numerous procedural defects in the site evaluation process noted in the Committee's recent report. Although I was aware in general terms from media reports of the site selection process and drawing up of the final shortlist of 5 sites including Overdale, to my knowledge no information was provided by the States to Westmount Road residents of the likelihood that Overdale would be the preferred site until mid-September 2020 at the earliest. As one of the 3 householders most affected (through sale and demolition of our houses), I received no communication until a letter dated 10th September from Our Hospital, which stated: 'During the past few weeks, various technical assessments have been undertaken on the Overdale site to assess the implications that building a new hospital will have on the site and the surrounding area. The studies have indicated that your property may be required to ensure to ensure a new hospital on the site can be constructed.' Although expressed in terms of my property 'may be required', when I followed up the letter it soon became apparent that selection of the Overdale site was in effect a fait accompli.
- Do you feel that any views of the public (whether minority or majority views) were adequately addressed by the Government of Jersey?
I cannot comment on the views of the general public, but with regard to Westmount Road residents the lack of communication from the States before mid-September 2020 about the possibility that Overdale would become the preferred site shows very clearly that the residents' views were not even sought, let alone addressed.
- Was your voice heard?
Not at all (see responses to questions 4 and 5). Since receiving the letter of 10th September it has been very evident that there was an underlying assumption that there exists no alternative to the Overdale site and the realignment of Westmount Road to become the primary access route. It seems to me that this is a rather questionable assumption.