li “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of fe; for there is in London, all that life can afford
” St Helier:
does it offer all that life can afford?
by STEVE LUCE, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Dr. Johnson’s famous quotation about London towards the end of the eighteenth century says as much about the attractions that great world city had to offer to its residents and visitors at the time as it does about the advantages of urban living. Samuel Johnson was an advocate of both and trumpeted the vitality and vibrancy of city life over the bucolic attraction and quiet contemplation of the countryside.
But of what relevance are Dr. Johnson’s musings to us as we contemplate the future of St. Helier, and what can we learn from his observations? This is not a matter of scale – St. Helier will never be a world city comparable to London – but of substance, and about trying to understand what it is that influences peoples’ decisions and makes them happy to live where they do.
Choosing a place to live is one of most important decisions we make. It has an impact on everything from our wealth and jobs, to the people we meet, the relationships we forge, and where we send our kids to school, not to mention our overall happiness, health and well-being.
So in the context of trying to make St. Helier a better place and in trying to encourage more people to live in and to visit town, there is a need to better understand and to celebrate what St. Helier already has to offer. There is also a need to be clear about the challenges it faces. This needs to be translated into a clear vision for the town and supported by a plan for change that can help to deliver a regenerated St. Helier that can offer ‘all that life can afford’.
And making this happen, through the regeneration of St Helier, will be a key focus of my ministerial term of office. It is essential that this happens: not just for the town but for the whole Island. If Jersey’s economy is to continue to recover and to grow, we need to provide the necessary homes and high quality environment that people want to live and work in. The regeneration of St Helier is key to this, and will not only benefit the town, but will allow us to continue to protect and enjoy the precious assets provided by the Island’s coast and countryside.
We have started a conversation 20/20 - St. Helier Page 23
about Future St. Helier with a whole range of stakeholders – including town residents, retailers, environmentalists, businesses and town deputies - to find out what is good about town and what needs to be addressed. A weekend workshop in May last year initiated our discussions and began to tease out some of the key challenges for us, but at the same time generated a lot of pride and enthusiasm for celebrating and making more of what St. Helier already has to offer. This conversation and engagement will need to continue to reach those who we haven’t talked to yet. We need to continue the dialogue
Royal Square now (courtesy of Rod McLoughlin)
Royal Square past (courtesy of Jersey Evening Post)
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