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Jim Hopley Honorary Chair
Jersey National Park Ltd Email jphopley@hotmail.com Mobile 07797741634
Migration and Population Review Panel Review of P 116/2021 Common Population Policy
I as the Honorary Chair on the Community led Jersey National Park Ltd (Charity no 416) have been requested to make a short submission to assist the Panel from our specific perspective in its review of P116/2021 Common Population Policy.
The Park's direct interest in this area is limited by the fact that we do not control any of the land within the designated area or that, beyond one part-time officer, we do not actually employ staff but we do obviously have a direct interest in the dynamics of population across the broader island.
The total ethos behind the Park is simple in that it was created to basically do two things. That is to protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage within its current 2,145 hectares so that it can be appreciated and enjoyed by all who spend time in it, now and into the future. If one adds to this the economic opportunity both in terms of tourism but also the fact that the Park offers much in terms of wellbeing and quality of life by way of opportunities for relaxation, outdoor activities and essentially cleansing the soul, it is therefore the island's breathing space.
The National Park was created by people, for the people and is deemed by many to be a precious asset worthy of protection. People work, live and play within its boundaries and whilst the key objective is safeguarding all that warrants it there needs to be balance to enable both locals and visitors alike to be able to enjoy all the diverse possibilities it has to offer now and into the future. There are as an integral part of the current and future proposed Island Plans strict guidelines concerning planning applications and development within the boundaries of the Park.
In this context within an island essentially 9 miles by 5 with an ever-rising population and ever more competing demands on land, development and required infrastructure the risk that we will eventually lose much of what makes our National Park and indeed the whole island special must be obvious to all. If the island allows population to continue to rise significantly into the future then the pressures on land, not only for housing of all types, but for all development purposes will escalate and changes to our coast and countryside will inevitably follow.
We as the National Park take no formal stance on what the level of Jersey's future population should be but only concern ourselves with the risks and challenges that exponential growth over time will bring pressures to bear on our most important natural resource that adds so much to the quality of life of the whole island and its people.
Jim Hopley MBE Honorary Chair Jersey National Park.