From Chris Whitworth.
SO, the Waterfront is now to be a chaotic mess for the next ten years. Well, no change there, then, except that thereafter the States will have lost the revenue from a very lucrative public car park and the Island will have inherited a hideous and characterless carbuncle.

With such an attractive castle in the bay I cannot believe how any government, even our sorry bunch, could be happy with what they have agreed to. To hide such an asset with the world’s ugliest hotel was bad enough, but now this.

I dare not contemplate what monstrosity they are devising for the rest of the site.
Perhaps leaving the road where it is to isolate this embarrassment would be the cheapest and best option.
As for the States debate, this has raised the following questions:
*How many development companies were interested in tendering for this project?
*Why was crucial information about the development company Harcourt withheld from States Members during the debate, even though some members were trying to highlight this fact?
*Who is going to pay to separate the toxic ash to be dug out of this site?

Are the developers hoping that the taxpayer will pay for the considerable costs involved with cleaning up the toxic ash and subsequent transfer to La Collette?

This, even more than the credit crunch and the fact that the finance sector is heading for more automation with more staff working from computers at home, makes me fear for this project.

I also find the notion that this is some kind of win-win venture for the Island very disturbing.

We’re told that the developers will contribute £75 million to States coffers, spend £25 million on lowering the road, absorb the costs of moving the cavern pipes and the upgrade of the Esplanade sewer network, which was never designed for such an extravagant scheme. Therefore, it’s no wonder that so few companies were interested.

Call me a pessimist but, given the Jersey College for Girls debacle, the incorrect valuation of States homes recently sold to the occupants and the Haut de la Garenne fiasco, I have more faith in Gordon Brown making a good decision than in our Council of Ministers.

Ever since Senator Walker announced that the period of mistakes and overspends was over we should have been suspicious.

Finally, I have three meagre suggestions:
*Do not build a financial centre in such a prominent location.
*Use the whole of the Waterfront area to enhance tourist facilities.
But, most importantly of all:
*Remove the Council of Ministers without delay, before they do any more damage to what used to be a beautiful Island.
Evanston,
Green Street,
St Helier.