St Helier is short of open space. A study carried out for the Planning Department in 2008 showed that our 30,000 residents have less amenity space than people who live in central London. That’s why it’s so important that we preserve our existing green areas at the same time as seeking additional parks, such as an extension to the Millennium Town Park and improved access to Fort Regent. Increasing the amount of public open space is particularly important given the Council of Ministers’ avowed intention of concentrating most new housing development in St Helier. It actually makes very good sense to do this as not only does it protect Jersey’s green zone from further development but it also makes St Helier work better, for people are the lifeblood of any town.
An important side effect of increasing the population of St Helier, however, is that the position of St Helier’s voters will become even more unfair than it is at present. Our parish is
already under-represented in the States, and increasing the number of electors in St Helier can only make that position worse. But does it matter? For many Islanders, the preservation of the ‘Parish System’ in its current form means that every parish Constable must have a seat in the States Assembly, even though that makes it impossible to achieve voter equity. Equality of votes may not sound important as a concept, but what it means in practice is that in Jersey the amount of representation you have – your influence over your government – and the amount of attention you can expect from your States’ members, depends on where you live. It has a particularly important effect when it comes to key votes in the States whose outcome affects the lives of St Helier residents, such as whether the States should pay rates. Perhaps estate agents should state, alongside ‘quiet country location’, that the owners of a particular property being offered
for sale will enjoy more political power than if they buy a house in town! Joking aside, this is surely an unacceptable situation for an island which wants to continue to develop its international reputation, and it needs to be rectified soon.
Renault Start living
All-New
BA OTA RG
DO GARAG
EA
20/20 - St. Helier
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St Helier Battle float 2015
Fête de Noué 2015 (picture courtesy of Channel 103)
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