A vision of
St Helier's role in Island life
by THE CONSTABLE OF ST HELIER, SIMON CROWCROFT.
Simon Crowcroft was elected a
Deputy for St Helier No. 2 District in
November 1996 and Constable of St Helier in
December 2001. He has been re-elected
Constable five times.
My vision for St Helier is, for the first time, aligned with the vision of Jersey’s government, something which I find very encouraging. When I used to start talking about urban regeneration, my fellow States’ members’ eyes used to glaze over. The Tourism Department would also direct visitors east, west or north, not into town itself. Now, more than a dozen years on, the Council of Ministers has made the improvement of St Helier one of the four Strategic Priorities for the period up to May 2018 when the next general election takes place.
There’s also a new Ministerial Group, ‘Future St Helier’, which has held public consultation and is pursuing the kind of practical improvements in town that are generally desired, while another group is responsible for developing the Waterfront, the Esplanade Quarter, Fort Regent and the harbours, schemes which will not only improve St Helier but also provide funding for regeneration projects in the heart of town.
Actually, St Helier is already an excellent place in which to live, work, visit, shop and relax. A recent inaccurate report about Jersey in the Guardian, at least got one thing right: ‘St Helier is a prosperous resort with cafes, theatres and covered
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markets,’ it said. ‘It is cleaner, busier, neater, brighter than almost any seaside town you will find on the British mainland.’ Lots of people have contributed in different ways to creating a town which is generally recognised to be on the way up.
The town also boasts an enormous variety and quantity of retail and hospitality outlets, with far more choice than other towns of a similar size. Our percentage of empty shops, even during the recession, was a fraction of the UK figure; St Helier outlets of UK chains regularly outperform the mainland branches, and shops which are vacated in our central shopping area are often snapped up without needing to be advertised. The abundance of restaurants, cafes and pubs means that St Helier is increasingly recognised as an excellent short- break destination for people who like their holidays to include shopping and fine dining.
The island’s capital is an extremely vibrant place with all kinds of festivals taking place throughout the year, from the re-enactment of the Battle of Jersey in early January to the Fête de Noué in December. We compete in the national Britain in Bloom competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society, winning gold in
2015 and coming top of the Large Town class, ahead of places like Durham.
The reputation of St Helier’s Parks and Gardens Department has led to invitations to participate in national shows including Hampton Court and Chelsea. Being a centre of excellence for horticulture is another reason why tourists are encouraged to see the town as an integral part of visiting Jersey.
An attractive environment is important for our business community, too. Workers in the Island’s financial services sector need to be able to socialise and network in streets and open spaces that are well designed and well maintained. Safe and convenient access is vital for everyone who wants to use St Helier’s facilities, which is why we continue to work to provide more parking. We are also seeking to create safer, more convenient walking and cycling routes, and to reduce congestion so that essential vehicle movements, particularly by buses and taxis, disabled drivers and delivery companies, can be achieved more efficiently. Tackling vehicle congestion is also important if we are to maintain good levels of air quality in town.
Constable with Deputy Richard Rondel at the opening of the Fête de St Helier
St Helier’s display at RHS Chelsea in 2012
Re-enactment of the Battle of Jersey 2015
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