ISLANDERS have voted overwhelmingly against Jersey adopting Central European Time.

The first result in St Mary set the pattern for the night and it became clear that there was no desire for change.

Results

St Mary
For: 159 Against: 495
Trinity
For: 228  Against: 684
St John
For: 280 Against: 648
St Martin
For: 321 Against: 937
St Ouen
For: 376 Against: 885
St Clement
For: 661 Against: 1884
Grouville
For: 461 Against: 1,242
St Lawrence
For: 424 Against: 1,242
St Saviour
For: 837 Against: 2,157
St Peter
For: 461 Against: 1,208
St Brelade
For: 910 Against: 2,328
St Helier
For: 1,446
Against: 3,526
TOTAL:
For: 6,564
Against: 17,230

The referendum was held as a result of a proposition to the States by Senator Jim Perchard. The House also decided that the vote should be taken at the same time as the elections for Senators and Constables.

The subject has provoked strong feelings on both sides. So strongly opposed are some people to the idea that they have formed a No Time for Change group, led by Advocate Christopher Lakeman. The group say that CET would result in longer, darker mornings; news at 11 instead of 10; and extra time having to be allowed for journeys to the UK and Guernsey – all of which they strongly oppose. The group also have the support of members of the finance industry.

But Senator Perchard believes that quality of life could be improved if we all had longer, lighter evenings in the summer. Families could enjoy more outdoor activies together, sports men and women would have more daylight hours to exercise. He questions why we should not be different from the UK and Guernsey?

But whatever the outcome of the vote, the States are not bound by it. If there was public support for change and Senator Perchard proposed that Jersey should adopt CET, the States could still reject the proposition.

A report setting out the pros and cons of change, which was produced for the States by the Council of Ministers, can be found on the States website: http://www.gov.je.