Parish Matters – Focus on St Brelade

Parish Matters – Focus on St Brelade

Today I thought I would focus on the local issues. We all know the main Island issues, and the manifestoes are full of that, so I thought I would concentrate on seeing how Deputies addressed their local Parish or District and anything to do with that.

Of those Deputies standing - in No 2 - Tony Pike has a huge amount of his manifesto devoted to local matters, although it has to be said that a bit of it is gimmicky - "poop watch" indeed!

Monty Tadier goes for an almost "minimalist" approach, where the new Les Quennevais school appears, but almost in a "supporting role".

Graham Truscott has a tightly focused look at two things he has achieved in the Parish, but not a huge amount on tasks for the future.

Garel Tucker has a concentration on traffic matters around the school, and road safety and also what to do with the Les Quennevais school site.

Of course one issue for Reform is that their manifesto is a document mainly on central governance, so that Parish issues have to be squeezed in to the vote.je website, whereas other candidates such as Tony Pike and Graham Truscott can have a whole section devoted to "Parish Matters. On the other hand, it is unlikely that their focus on Islandwide issues will be quite as comprehensive as Reform.

Do people vote primarily for Parish matters or for Island matters? I would have said that in the past, the focus on Parish matters was definitely more of a factor in determining votes. I'm not so sure that it does quite the same way now. It will be interesting to see what transpires at the Hustings.

Tony Pike

St Brelade has some of the most beautiful beaches and coastal areas to be found in the world. Our natural and irreplaceable places are where tourists and locals alike go to relax….

However, Les Blanches Blanques (Sand Dunes) is a veritable minefield of dog mess.

I would propose introducing a “Poop Watch” warden to patrol here, Noirmont, and other public areas with the power to issue a warning, and possibly on the spot fines for repeat offenders who do not have poo bags in their possession. Hopefully, this warden would have more of a deterrent effect than anything else.

I am totally against any further development on our coastline.

St Brelade’s bay is under threat from developers wanting to maximize profit over the small remaining areas that are left , just a stones throw from the beach! This cannot be right. St Brelade’s bay has seen more than it’s fair share of property development over the past thirty years in particular. I say enough is enough, not just in St Brelade -but to the rest of Jersey’s coastline.

In St Aubin’s bay we have this problem that reoccurs every year, that simply must be addressed. Work must be done to eliminate the scorce of nitrates flowing into the bay which cause the problem, both from farmers fields and Bellozanne. I support the SOS Jersey idea of placing oyster beds in the bay to help clean the sea of these nitrates. The blight of sea lettuce every year does absolutely nothing to attract visitors to our shores- it must be tackled as a matter of urgency.

Les Quennevais Precinct: The precinct has over the past few years taken on a very run down look, with currently six retail outlets not let out to new business. These issues reflect badly on our parish and needs to be addressed with some imaginative thought on how it could be made more inviting and pleasant to shop around.

Monty Tadier

If re-elected, I will focus on the key areas of Housing, Health Care and Education, including championing the new Les Quennevais School.

I will also champion environmental issues in the parish and in the island.

Graham Truscott

I negotiated with the CI Co-Operative Society, for a much needed bus shelter to be erected on their land at Red Houses. I thank the Society for also agreeing to pay for half the costs from their Community Scheme Fund.

As Assistant Minister for Social Security: with political responsibility for the Back to Work Initiative I instigated an ongoing work experience programme for the long term unemployed to help maintain the Railway Walk.

New Les Quennevais School: I’ve been involved with the project from the beginning and will continue to support it through to its opening. I’d favour a mixed housing development on the old site.

Garel Tucker

When I moved to St.Brelade, I was struck by the friendliness of the community and made to feel very welcome. It is a great place to work, live and bring up a family. I feel that now is the right time for me to give something back to the Parish and the island that I love. If elected as Deputy in St Brelade no. 2, I intend to be a visible and active part of our community, in the parish and in the States.

In Les Quennevais and La Moye, traffic flow has become an increasing problem. This is in part due to the popularity of the area, the success of its schools, and a general increase in the island’s population. I have petitioned the States to have a Pedestrian Crossing installed outside of La Moye School. Traffic along Route Orange can be very heavy at times, frequently with speeding vehicles. The department for Infrastructure has agreed in principle to a crossing, which I believe will greatly improve road safety, reducing speeding, as well as providing a convenient, safe amenity for the many residents who cross for the school, the shops, the golf course and the country park.

The new Les Quennevais School has been long overdue and will finally give students the building they deserve. I am keen that the community is consulted properly on the use of the old school site before any decisions are made.

Mike Jackson

I shall give active support to the Schools, Clubs, Churches, societies, charities and organisations based in the Parish and promote their future development as well as that of our rich heritage.

I will ensure continued investment in our roads and infrastructure in an environmentally sympathetic manner as well as improving paths in the interests of walkers and cyclists.

I am presently a Centenier and shall continue to encourage recruitment to the honorary police to ensure this backbone of our way of life continues to prosper and adapts to modern needs and be conscious of world events and the effects of extremism.

Marylin Carre

I love my Parish and would like to see a number of contentious issues revisited and brought to a healthy resolution. These include parking in St Aubin’s Village and all the anomalies which surround this; licencing of premises where appropriate, and regulation of noise pollution.

John Young

A compromise solution proposed by the Constable to the problems of car parking in St Aubin did not find support at the recent Parish Assembly. The Parish has been given notice by the Infrastructure Department that the Parish Hall car park must loose its free disc parking and pay cards introduced. This unsatisfactory decision has to be reviewed and choices will be required balancing the competing interests, which can only be achieved by more consultation with local residents and village businesses. A safety audit of St Aubin’s shared vehicle/pedestrian junction is also required in the light of the tragedy in St Helier. I am concerned about the safety of cycles using Mont Les Vaux and would like explore improvements.

The recent planning decision to allow the despoliation of Wayside in the coastal strip of St Brelades Bay which will reduce open views and public access to the sea, is further urbanisation of our coastline. Such ruination, following on from the overdevelopment of the former Zanzibar site next door for a wealthy resident in the bay will lead to Costa del Jersey if allowed to continue unchecked. The decision overrides the amendment to the Island Plan which I successfully brought in 2014 to protect the bay from over development. If elected I will ensure (by seeking office or bringing propositions) that the power of planning law is used to PROPERLY protect our coasts as it is intended to do. Our coastline belongs to us all and is not the exclusive province of the wealthy.