From Keith Shaw.
ALTHOUGH I do not often agree with some of his actions or statements, I have to admit feeling sorry for the Transport Minister Deputy Guy de Faye, when I read the front-page news regarding the Bel Royal road works.
He had to admit publicly that senior officers in his department had felt it unnecessary to discuss/consult or even ask the opinion of the three emergency services prior to undertaking some seriously expensive and restrictive changes to an existing traffic system.
The aim appears to be the creation of an ‘informal crossing’, whatever that is. This obviously reflects quite poorly upon his management of the ministry, but in fact raises quite serious questions regarding the competence and capability of staff involved.
The Bel Royal roadway is already a tricky chicane for emergency service vehicles to have to deal with, travelling in either direction, but making any material changes should only have been considered after appropriate consultation.
These errors of judgment could easily lead people to question other decisions made by the department. Was there evidence of timely and appropriate consultation?
Issues that come to mind are:
*Dumping potato waste in St Brelade.
*The locations of waste sites in St Brelade, St Mary and St Helier. All four of these sites caused serious pollution issues to the ground, the water table and residents. They were all relatively simple solutions with potentially seriously expensive consequences, to the environment and public health.
*Previous and current operational procedures for the Bellozanne Incinerator. Serious questions are being raised regarding the potential damage to health caused by emissions from the Bellozanne chimney.
*Proposals for a new incinerator location at La Collette. If all of the suggested works get carried out at La Collette, it will be a very busy and compact area with a great many of the Island’s eggs in one relatively small basket.
Proposals with a total expenditure of close to £200 million at this time include a new access road, moving the fuel farm and transferring most if not all of the functions of Bellozanne to the area.
Apparently the proposals to relocate the Bellozanne incinerator to La Collette were not model examples of consultation with appropriate services.
There are many who believe that the whole issue around La Collette and the complex plans for vast expansion need to be brought out into the open for proper consultation.
The real possibility of an incident occurring with cumulative disastrous results gets greater every time something new gets suggested for the area.
Cleveland House,
Cleveland Road, St Helier.
Serious errors of judgment
From Keith Shaw.
ALTHOUGH I do not often agree with some of his actions or statements, I have to admit feeling sorry for the Transport Minister Deputy Guy de Faye, when I read the front-page news regarding the Bel Royal road works.
He had to admit publicly that senior officers in his department had felt it unnecessary to discuss/consult or even ask the opinion of the three emergency services prior to undertaking some seriously expensive and restrictive changes to an existing traffic system.
The aim appears to be the creation of an ‘informal crossing’, whatever that is. This obviously reflects quite poorly upon his management of the ministry, but in fact raises quite serious questions regarding the competence and capability of staff involved.
The Bel Royal roadway is already a tricky chicane for emergency service vehicles to have to deal with, travelling in either direction, but making any material changes should only have been considered after appropriate consultation.
These errors of judgment could easily lead people to question other decisions made by the department. Was there evidence of timely and appropriate consultation?
Issues that come to mind are:
*Dumping potato waste in St Brelade.
*The locations of waste sites in St Brelade, St Mary and St Helier. All four of these sites caused serious pollution issues to the ground, the water table and residents. They were all relatively simple solutions with potentially seriously expensive consequences, to the environment and public health.
*Previous and current operational procedures for the Bellozanne Incinerator. Serious questions are being raised regarding the potential damage to health caused by emissions from the Bellozanne chimney.
*Proposals for a new incinerator location at La Collette. If all of the suggested works get carried out at La Collette, it will be a very busy and compact area with a great many of the Island’s eggs in one relatively small basket.
Proposals with a total expenditure of close to £200 million at this time include a new access road, moving the fuel farm and transferring most if not all of the functions of Bellozanne to the area.
Apparently the proposals to relocate the Bellozanne incinerator to La Collette were not model examples of consultation with appropriate services.
There are many who believe that the whole issue around La Collette and the complex plans for vast expansion need to be brought out into the open for proper consultation.
The real possibility of an incident occurring with cumulative disastrous results gets greater every time something new gets suggested for the area.
Cleveland House,
Cleveland Road, St Helier.
Article posted on 19th May, 2008 - 3.00pm