From Frank Le Quesne.
THE financial troubles that have fallen upon so many countries, large and small, over the last few months should surely be showing Jersey a warning light with regard to how easily an economy dependent on its finance industry can move from apparent buoyancy to near bankruptcy in a very short space of time.

Now is the time to see the red light ahead for the development of a financial quarter at the Waterfront, and I am at a loss to find who it was that stated there was a need for one in the first place. The Island appears to have been taken over by outside consultants telling us what we need. We are seeing, through the courtesy of your columns, the wheeling and dealing that has already been going on in the upper echelons of the ‘preferred developer’ for the Waterfront and how it appears already to be a matter for the Irish courts to determine who should develop our Waterfront, if anyone.

We employ architects of high repute from outside of the Island, when we have architects here who can produce designs far more sensitive to local traditions than those from far and wide who seek only to improve the reputation of their ‘internationally acclaimed’ practices.

These fanciful schemes of underpasses and their associated disruptions to our traffic flow for years to come are not for Jersey. Provide us with some open spaces on the Waterfront and revitalise areas of the existing town which are currently in need of investment. The Constable of St Helier has made great efforts to keep the town alive but could do with much more help to bring large areas of the town back into beneficial use.

The proposed National Gallery is also a totally unnecessary requirement for the Island. However, if others think differently, may I suggest that instead of commissioning an overseas architect to provide an iconic structure, we should make use of the fine granite structure currently housing part of St Saviour’s Hospital. Fortunately this building is currently used only to a very minor degree for the purpose for which it was originally designed.

Although major repairs and renovation would doubtless be required, the location, parking facilities and opportunity to use some of the areas not required for the gallery by art groups and other interested parties would surely be more sensible and cost-effective than current thoughts. We should not let this building be condemned to the same fate as the former Jersey College for Girls.

I hope that this letter will not be seen as the cry of a Luddite but rather from a Jerseyman with Jersey values at heart.
La Cachette,
Grande Route des Sablons,
Grouville.