Island to house 500 building workers?
Monday 20th October 2008, 3:00PM BST.
UP to 500 construction workers could be shipped over to help build the new Esplanade Quarter.
The Jersey Hospitality Association is asking its members to help find accommodation for Harcourt Development workers for the next three years.
But Senator Philip Ozouf, the Island’s Economic Development Minister, says that the request in ‘news to him’.
He was unable to comment on whether the posts would be subject to the usual five-year Regulation of Undertakings law.
In its monthly newsletter, the JHA, which represents more than 400 tourism industry partners, says that it is helping Harcourt Developments find accommodation for hundreds of workers who will be living in the Island to work on the Waterfront development ‘for three years’.
But the States have not yet approved the deal or given the contract to the Irish-based firm to develop the £330 million project.
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Could someone please explain why this is needed again, is it just to line peoples pockets. There ia already a lack of parking in jersey and to take away parking for 3 years in unacceptable. Also is there not enough office space in Jersey alrready?And finally why do we have to knock down the underpass again, oh yes to sink the road, of course what a brain wave. The normal people of Jersey, the ones who have to suffer driving on our roads everyday stuck in traffic in rush dont have the benefit of private spaces will really look forward to the extra hassle we will have to endure. God bless the states keep up the good work. muppets
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Why build more office spaces when there are some that already exist that haven’t got people in them?
For example, the huge building near the round about after the tunnel!!!!!
The islands politicians are damn mad!!!!!!!!!
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how dare they! Where the hell will all these people be housed then? Taking places of people on the housing list who have been waiting years? Having benefits, and not having to wait for housing qualies?
STUPID!
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Well said mr suffering. The question I want answered is WHERE exactly are these 500 workers going to be housed when the residents of Jersey are struggling to find accommodation as it is? The housing market over here is in a bad state right now with people desperate for housing. Why put the extra strain on the island in already difficult times?
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Why do 500 workers have to be brought into the island? Are local construction workers not good enough to build to the standards of a “world class waterfront”, or is it just that non of them are willing to work on such a travesty?
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As ABOVE! What on earth is all this for? a government totally out of touch with its electorate. Whose fooling who here? somebody’s going to line their pockets then leave us with another eyesore, you can bet on that, not to mention the 3 years on agony for people living and working in the area, WILL WE NEVER LEARN?
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I cannot believe they are pushing ahead with the Waterfront in the current financial climate!
Loads of empty office space which we the taxpayer will be paying for the maintenance and upkeep of for years to come, until its finally pulled down.
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I believe the idea is to house them in some of the lower grade hotels.
This is illegal under present law as the hotel will be acting as a lodging house.
However doubtless some sort of ‘dispensation’ will be granted.
Some people are going to make huge sums out of this project.
However the quality of life in the St Helier area will suffer as 500 mainly single people will set out to party on a weekend after a hard week on the building.
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I can’t believe they’re doing this either but if they are then how about the Plemont Pontins site????? it’s not good for much else as no-one can seem to make a decision….
I DO hope they will fill the positions from the Island workforce first before ferrying in Tom, Dick and Harry.
The States say they care about this Island but all I see is them destroying it by allowing more and more people in who are bringing with them violence and crime…..something we DEFINATELY don’t need.
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I hope our ministers realise the credit crunch is our problem as well and and at the least postpone this development until better times. Lots of people I meet think Jersey is immune to the worlds problems, Sadly we are not and the Finance industry will shrink
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Why is it every time the States do a large scheme that workers are allowed to be brought in; whereas local construction companies are ‘bound by the 5 year rule’.
I hope Mr Ozouf (having just been reelected) takes heed of locals wishes – and stops this!
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Perfect solution. They can all be housed at an Olympic style village in France and then coached over each morning across the new bridge!
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Is this a wind up or is it seriously happening!
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Mr. Left Hand States Member, let me introduce you to Mr. Right Hand States Member as you obviously have no idea what the other’s doing. Or are we all being taken for a ride that the deal “isn’t signed yet”? Surely not.
This IS NOT THE TIME to build offices for banks – even if they can afford them, think of the headlines “bank laying off staff in UK takes luxury offices in Jersey” – how’s that for PR? No UK Govt. Supported bank will be able to justify it – and that’ll be most of the big ones soon…
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The post 2001 boom in offshore centres has already made Jersey into morally
quite a grubby and venal place. I suggest this public works folly will just make it more obvious physically. Apparently this is what’s called “Excellence offshore”.
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Is this for real?
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Mr “Suffering” et al: Stop moaning! The majority elected these politicians!
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Well people, if we are to get the building started, then we ALL have to make some sort of effort to make these people welcome in Jersey.
I cant wait to see the waterfront finally finished, as it would be a jewel in the crown of Jersey when finished.
Well done to those planners with the ability to think of our future.
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mike-even though the majority elected these politicians Mr suffering et al are entitled to their opinions. surely this is what a democracy is all about?
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I think they are all mad we hope that the elections would bring better thought to everything looks like we were all wrong so what was the point in voting!
If this god forseen project goes ahead why use workers from the UK there is nothing wrong with the local boys!
I also wonder is any politicians look at this site and look at any of the public’s comments and even take them on board!?
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Come on everybody, what would you rather have on this prime piece of land….apparently a car park. This is a great peice of land that needs to have something useful on it. I have been in Jersey all my life and it is always the same when change is put forward, will people stop moaning and try and live in the 21st century. People moan about everything….’We don’t need the incenerator’ when we do need it…’We don’t need additional offices’…we do need additional offices to encourage new business and secure jobs. I sure all you moaners will be happy when we are all made redundant and sewerage of puring down the middle of King Street.
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Madness!!! Surely there are other things that Jersey could spend £300m on…such as new homes for first time buyers, contribute to Nursery fees (why should people who work cough up £900 per month and be penalised for earning a living when people who dont get it for free??? using the workforce we have so they are not out of jobs. This Island is going to pot recently, its stupidly expensive to live here and trying to get on the property ladder is impossible let alone start a family with the nursery fees on top of a mortgage. But its good to know my tax is being thrown to the wind on pointless projects all the time! Frustrated isnt the word!
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If everyone had Bridgets attitude this Island would be a much nicer place to live! When the Waterfront is finished St Helier will look a lot better.
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I can only add that in 5 years time i am going to say ‘I Told You So’.
This area of town will become a ghost town at night and will no doubt be overcast and dark for most of the day. If you look all over the world at city developments they all end up being cold and windy places to be in the day time. This is no different.
On the subject of 500 workers, this could push up the price of rents to locals as they will no doubt take up cheap lodgings etc.
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another 500 local jobs lost.
whats wrong with the local firms who employ the permanant resident workers all year round?
anyone out there who is not as busy as a couple of months ago?
do you know of anyone whos on short time or worse still laid off?
the bread and butter will be taken from the permanant residents mouth
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yeah bring in 500 poles or someone else ,pay them £5.00 per hour and charge out rate is 25 quid the hour!!hmmmmm someone making big money again ,this rock is full of greed .
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Whilst I don’t agree with the building work going on there, the comments about the builders being housed in accommodation and taking it away from Jersey people is so typically close minded of so many of the Jersey population. Of course they are not going to be given qualified housing.
Some of the workers will be staying in hotels, guest houses and self catering- a great boost for hotieliers in such absolutely appaling times. Others will stay in non-quals or J-Cat places, therefore not taking any of your precious qualified apartments- most of which are standing empty and I doubt through cost as the new ones are all at a reasonable price- just purely through Jersey people wanting everything given for nothing.
As I said- I’m not happy with the whole building project, but at least the restaurant ans hotels will get a much needed financial boost!
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KS, if you think that qualified people only live in qualified accomodation you are very naive. There is not enough qualified housing for all the qualified people – THAT is the problem ! So they WILL be taking housing away form qualified as well as other locals J cat or unqualified (they are still local if they live here in my opinion!)
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This building work should be given to local trademen many of whom are struggling to support themselves and their families. Bringing outside workers is should not be an option. It is decisions like this that cause local people to have to go on Social Security/sickness benefits because they are being pushed out of work. We dont want ‘cheap outside labour’. This work must be given to local contractors – there is already news of local businesses closing.
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The work to extend the underpass and create new underground car park will require civil engineers and experienced civil engineering contractors, not plumbers, electricians and blocklayers. Just on ethought…. all the material from the dig… where is it going? How about a casueway to France instead of a bridge ;o)
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Mr Ozouf will surely be pleased with another 500 tax payers is that not after all his economic growth model in action – he has just been re elected, so he clearly has a mandate from the people. The calibre of people may be a little down market for Mr o but never mind eh…….500 is afterall 500……………I wil be amazed if it is built but nothing this ‘government’ does surprises me anymore……………..or come top that the electorate as afterall we get the governmen we deserve
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In reference to the comments about the work should go to locals , if it has to be done at all(in my oppinion it shouldn’t) is very valid as is the fact we don’t have the skill level they want because they outsource all the jobs like this, so no one can gain the skills. At the end of the day they will be building a deathgtrap in the form of the underpass which will drown people if the wall breaches again which is very likey as the force of the water is being directed at a smaller area ergo greater force and the wall was not designed to take that level.I was on the sea front the last time it breached and at the speed the area flooded no one would be able to get out.
But I digress, 500 new workers to house at our expence since they always give incentives to worker force out of town to keep them interested
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Just one further point as to the workers coming here they would either pay local tax on their income or UK tax and Gordon Brown would not stand for them giving the tax to Jersey even if they earned it here.
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A law should be passed banning foreign workforces being brought onto the island, unless they are absolutely needed and cannot be sourced locally. This would prevent politicians even considering the option. Why pay to bring 500 workers over when we already have a majority of the skills and infrastructure here? Come on Jersey, get your act together – bringing 500 workers over should not even be contemplated. The politicians in Jersey are totally out of touch with what people need.
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Thundercat…..
>A law should be passed banning foreign workforces being brought onto the island, unless they are absolutely needed and cannot be sourced locally. <
Tell that to Jersey Dairy… The UK contractors/Designers/Engineers they are using for the new dairy (but we still have to buy Jersey Milk by law!). Or to Social Security who employ UK project managers to refurb their offices over last 6 years.
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i’m from the north of england and was hoping to move to jersey with a local girl i’ve met and get a job plastering but feel i’d be hounded out by the local tradesmen
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