Ex-WEB chairman backs delaying finance quarter
Wednesday 27th May 2009, 2:58PM BST.
An artist impression of the proposed development
FORMER Waterfront Enterprise Board chairman Don Filleul has backed calls to delay the Waterfront financial district.
In a letter to the JEP published today, former Deputy Filleul supports Senator Jim Perchard’s call to stall the ambitious Esplanade Quarter plans until the economy has recovered.
‘I have to admit that I share his fears,’ writes Mr Filleul. ‘My concern felt for the future of a project beset by so many doubts and pitfalls has now coalesced into apprehension that this awesomely ambitious development might leave us with a vast expanse of empty space to fill.’
It was revealed earlier this month that preferred developers Harcourt have until the end of June to come up with a £95m bond to prove they have the money to build the 14-block finance district.
• Mr Filleul’s Letter to the Editor: Click here
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What worries me is the rash of ‘former’ WEB officials rushing about seeking to excuse themselves for their past poor judgement. If they got it so wrong a year ago, why should we trust them now?
Don Filleul and Senator Pershard need to be more contrite. They can start by admitting and apologizing for past errors so we can learn from their mistakes?
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Shame he didn’t delay the steam clock!!
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As it seem the whole plan centres around the removal of the car park which to date has been the only real success story in the whole waterfront development I welcome this delay. The whole waterfront has been a disaster for Jersey, not just because of the ill considered and poorly designed structures built to date but also because of the loss of the granite seafront [replaced by rubble] and resulting neglect suffered in the surrounding amenities such as the loss of Fort Regent and West Park swimming pools. Perhaps now with the dreams of a grandiose development on hold common sense can again prevail and our politicians will concentrate on real and achievable issues such as the present parking problems and the Bellozanne outfall. Perhaps the money saved by not building a new multi-story car park in town could be spent on proper landscaping of the existing waterfront. The present rubble wall is an unnecessary disgrace which could easily be resolved by the addition of a bit of sand on the beach and greenery at the top, similar the new La Collette wall.
Until our planners and developers can make good the damage they have done to date I have no confidence that any future development will be any better. I would question the need for more offices and for just whose benefit of this development is being pushed through, the people or the developers?
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Please Mister Chief Minister, see sense and look at what the vast majority of Jersey people are saying, in that we do not want this looming disater thrust upon us.
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I whole-heartedly agree with everything that Sanity says. Turn it into a seaside park with trees and greenery which may go some way in soothing the eye from that awful Radisson building.
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A park would be good but the cost of installing and maintaining it will be ridiculous, I heard that the cost of maintaining the jardin de la mer is over 3/4 million per year and there is nothing of it, can you imagine what a proper park would cost?
The reality is that you could ask 100 people what to put there and get 100 answers, whatever is put there will be wrong in someones eyes,
I think sinking the road will be a disaster both during construction and then after when your approach to St Helier is underground! It won’t matter how tall they build on the waterfront as you won’t see it from where you are to be able to enjoy any view!
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We don’t want another disaster steaming up on us under the guise of wait a little while before going ahead anyway.
This is doomed to failure as far as I am concerned. If this goes ahead we will be in big trouble. Don’t say I haven’t warned you.
I wouldn’t personally let anyone do anything there until things have been thought out properly. We have had enough messing around. Time to give it a rest and sort out the landscape on the whole of the waterfront. Make a park and underground parking and leave alone for the foreseeable future.
I would get rid of that stupid steam clock as well. How much is this eye sore costing us per year?
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Sanity, you said:-Until our planners and developers can make good the damage they have done to date I have no confidence that any future development will be any better. I would question the need for more offices and for just whose benefit of this development is being pushed through, the people or the developers?
Well the first hotel scheme was very good but everybody protested and beat down the operator so they threw in the towel, the next one also got beat up so you are left with a commercially viable hotel as all the balconies, and good design was gone and the clock ticked and build costs went up! (There is a book written about the hotel saga was available from De Gruchy) thats how long it went on for!!!!
If, as many say the new offices will sit empty how is this benefitting the developer? surely if its a success then the developer (who is taking all the risk) deserves to make money, if not get your local deputy to ask to use tax payers money to build it!
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