THE 21 Senatorial candidates began their campaigning in earnest at St Clement’s Parish Hall last night.

Just over 150 people crowded into the building for the first of the parish hustings meetings.

St Clement Constable Derek Gray squeezed in six questions into the two-hour meeting by asking candidates to answer three questions at a time in two 90-second sessions.

William Langley asked the 21 candidates for their views on the proposed development at the Esplanade Quarter, claiming that the new business would lead to more non-local staff and further applications for J-category housing.

Mr Palmer said that the development depended on whether the finance industry kept going. He didn’t think it would, so the development would not be needed.
Deputy Maclean said that the key factor was that the design was ‘absolutely perfect’ and that the growth of the Island would dictate whether Jersey made full use of the development.
Deputy Troy said that empty buildings in St Helier left behind by a mass move to the Esplanade Quarter should be used as housing so that it didn’t become a ghost town.
Senator Vibert said that the development was wonderful and that there was a need for environmentally friendly offices on the site.
Mr Higgins said that the development would create more J-cats and feared that it would ‘ghetto-ise’ the rest of St Helier.
Mr Maçon said that the Quarter should be used for what it was intended for — affordable homes for first-time buyers.
Mr Perkins said that housing, a fire station and a primary school had been originally intended for the site, and the plans were now ‘all wrong’.
Mr Pitman said that if people didn’t like the plans the only way to do anything about it was to elect a new government. He urged parishioners to use their vote wisely.
Senator Routier said that the development offered a real opportunity to develop business capacity and regenerate the rest of St Helier.
Senator Ozouf said that he didn’t recognise the plan as creating new offices, just replacement offices. He said that it was a fantastic opportunity to regenerate town.
Mr Le Cornu said that the plans were speculative because of the credit crunch and the development would rip the heart out of town.
Mr Forskitt said that he didn’t know the full details of the plans but added that he would like to see more training of local people so that fewer J-cats were needed.
Mr Tadier said that it was important that large amounts of property were not sold to outsiders.
Deputy Southern said that the States were allowing ‘apartment after apartment’ to be built and called for more three-bedroom houses to be constructed.
Deputy Ferguson said that she would like to see fewer flats sold to property developers and that Islanders should come first. She was working to ensure that flats on the Esplanade were flying freehold and for Islanders.
Mr Wimberley said that there was more need to train local people to reduce reliance on getting people in.
Mr Le Marquand said that the development was ‘far too large’ and that it was relying on major growth in the economy.
Mr Pashley said that the development was always going to be apartments because it was a prime location.
Deputy Breckon said that the development was ‘not Jersey’ and would devastate St Helier.
Mr Walsh said that more people should be trained so that there was less reliance on getting people in.
Mr Le Clercq said that he wanted to see a low-rise development, not the ‘horrible monstrosity’ currently planned.