REVERSING the Waterfront decision would destroy more than two years’ work and waste taxpayers’ money, according to Environment Minister Freddie Cohen.

His comments were made in the States yesterday in response to Deputy Gerard Baudains’s move to rescind the Esplanade Quarter masterplan. They were backed by Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur, who said that he would commission an independent external valuation of the site before signing on the dotted line with developers – whether they were Harcourt or not.

Deputy Baudains believes that States Members were not given the full picture when they voted in favour of building a £330-million finance district last month. Senator Cohen defended the proposition to reverse part one of the debate – the Hopkins Masterplan – and Senator Le Sueur was defending part two – the financial deal.

In his opening speech to the Assembly, Deputy Baudains said that the former debate had lacked analysis and had painted a rosy picture but without any facts. ‘It was a gung-ho attitude which was rather naïve and foolish of ministers and not close enough to reality,’ he said. ‘The magnitude if this goes wrong could be disastrous for Jersey.’

He said that sinking Route de la Libération would be a liability rather than an asset and questioned the public’s support for the project.

Senator Cohen responded, saying that the scheme would be a ‘low-rise, polite’ five-to-six-storey scheme preferable to earlier designs submitted. ‘The proposition is yet again an example of negative politics in an attempt to destroy something good for Jersey and waste two and half years of work and money,’ he said. ‘This is not in my opinion something that should be supported.

‘This rescindment is a destructive force that would remove from the Island a wonderful Waterfront.’
Senator Cohen dismissed Deputy Baudains’s comments that the Island would gain £45 million by not sinking the road by saying: ‘We are creating value by digging out the road and building on top of it.

‘If we do not lower the road we do not have £45 million extra.’

He also dismissed Deputy Baudains’s claims that the Hopkins plan was not something that the public wanted.
‘I do not know what the Deputy is talking about and I feel troubled that some politicians think they are the voice of the public.

‘The overwhelming feedback the Planning department has had is positive and a “let’s just get on with it” attitude.
He said that the plan had been approved and was the ‘prevailing Masterplan’.

Senator Le Sueur added: ‘It is not my job to second-guess the board of WEB. The board makes its decision on the basis of what is best for the company.

‘I am taking separate independent advice because I want to do what is best for the Island. Unless the board of WEB and I am satisfied the deal will not go ahead. The rescindment of part two is totally unnecessary.’

He said that approving part two allowed the transfer of parcels of land – the road and a small bit of land by the cinema – from the public to WEB and was not a green light for developers Harcourt.

On Tuesday the Council of Ministers released a States projet saying that they rejected the proposition in its entirety.

They said: ‘It is the contention of the Council of Ministers that this proposition, if adopted, would seriously damage the ability to achieve the best possible benefit and value from the development of the St Helier Waterfront.’

The debate continues today and is followed by a call for the removal of the States directors and chairman of WEB lodged by Deputy Geoff Southern.