From Andrew Arthur.
THE uproar over the use of Harcourt for the development of the Esplanade Quarter demonstrates a lack of due diligence by the States of Jersey and their advisers but is also a warning about the capability of those responsible for implementing the scheme for the Esplanade Quarter.

For this reason the States’ decision on the Waterfront masterplan should not necessarily be treated in isolation, as stated in one of your recent editorials.

The group of local surveyors who expressed their misgivings about the viability of the whole scheme for the Esplanade Quarter must surely deserve greater respect from Senator Cohen, who seems more interested in courting the advice of outside consultants.

My concern is that the full implications of this substantial development, which is likely to affect not only on the well-being of the town but the Island as a whole, have not been properly assessed.

This, of course, is not the first time we have seen shortcomings in the development of the Waterfront. The eyesore of the Radisson Hotel and the débâcle over the land ownership with Les Pas Holdings are just some examples.

The development of the Esplanade Quarter will be a major exercise for those responsible and, I strongly suspect, will be a bridge too far. I am sure that if it goes ahead the people of Jersey will have to witness further incidences of failings and potential disaster.

The scenario of poorly built office blocks standing empty at one of the major gateways to the Island or a similar scenario of a deserted town centre are entirely believable consequences of this development.

I thought originally that one of the Waterfront objectives was to provide much-needed housing, which in turn would assist in limiting further development in the countryside. Yet it seems now that further sites in the country outside the Island Plan have had to be identified for retirement homes and for first-time buyers.

The proposed scheme for the Esplanade Quarter appears to have opted for profit rather than for the long-term benefit of the people who live here.

Is the Esplanade Quarter as proposed really needed? I would suggest that the best option at the present time, and for the sake of future generations, would be to leave this site as it is until such time as the necessary leadership and ability to carry out the development of the land properly can prevail.
Le Puits,
Rue des Marais,
St Mary.