From Don Filleul.
AS an ex-chairman of the Waterfront Enterprise Board, I have only rarely expressed my views on its progress on the grounds that sour grapes and second thoughts come very readily to mind and as such are, perhaps, best kept to oneself, certainly until something specific has materialised. This has still not happened, but…

You gave Senator Perchard’s comments front page prominence on 23 May and I have to admit that I share his fears. 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 is all very well to demand that a bond, effectively an insurance policy, should be deposited in our name prior to commencing the practical work. Given that this could result in completion of the actual building work, there certainly won’t be a guarantee that profitable occupants will materialise to bring life to an immense business location.

Already it has become apparent that Liberty Wharf hasn’t attracted its essential tenants. This is simply because St Helier is already a vibrant, attractive shopping centre whose shopkeepers, from the superb market to the outer fringes of Colomberie and Charing Cross, have established their locale and clientele and don’t need to take on the commercial risks of Liberty Wharf.

They can only suffer from the creation at Elizabeth Quarter of yet another unnecessary extension to a well balanced retail district.

Maybe there will be a substantial demand for office accommodation in the Esplanade quarter. While we await the firm evidence that this is the case, we should, as Senator Jim suggests, hold our horses; let Harcourt (or its replacement if we can find one) finish off the Liberty Wharf scheme then see that settle down to its desirable success.

Or, as a second thought, perhaps the way to substantiate the genuine enthusiasm of States Members to this project would be to issue shares in the entire development in lieu of, say, 50% of their annual salary.
Trellian,
Rue des Murs,
St Lawrence.