From Ian Rolls.
HAVING been away from Jersey for a couple of years, I recently returned with an objective eye, and have been pleasantly surprised.

There seems to be a new buzz in the Island which has come to a head with the Branchage film festival over the last four days. This was a brilliant series of uniquely located film experiences and events which have projected the Island in all its familiar aspects in a totally new and contemporary light. Well done to all those involved.

This over-layered with the Line in the Sand event, which was something which can be viewed on many different important levels. But purely as a visual spectacle and a spiritually charged community gathering, it was on a par with Jersey Side by Side. Well done to Mike Stentiford and all at the National Trust for Jersey.

Linked to this is the decision by our politicians to approve the Town Park plans and reject the proposed development of the Plémont headland site. At last, there is hope that community interest and sensitivity will triumph over selfishness and greed.
Well done those guys who only rarely seem to get it right but did on these two occasions.

Other events which have played their part in the ‘cooling’ of Jersey are the Eurosurf competition and Jersey Live (can’t get enough of those coloured flags at both), and in terms of new buildings which look like they have always been there, El Tico is a winner.

The Eco Active initiatives are great and must be developed. The Plémont site would be a wonderful location for an environmental / ecological centre of inspiration, imagination and action. Jersey could lead the way in so many sustainable ways.

It seems that Jersey is at last becoming a more balanced community, with the finance industry being more healthily offset, and is up there as an exciting, creative and vibrant place to live. It’s good to be back!