From Jennifer Le Fondré.
I write concerning the proposed development on the Esplanade/Water front.
It is said that this development will almost be the answer to the Island’s problems, but I hope that before the official ‘go-ahead’ is given, our Government will look at the bigger picture world wide.

First of all the financial world is far from stable. This is one worry that should be considered. Overnight as we already know, finance can change, it cannot be relied upon to be consistent. Dubai was on course for a development to change status, and virtually overnight the country nearly went bankrupt.

I believe its neighbour Saudi Arabia baled it out. The same thing could happen here. This type of development could be the fly in the ointment for the Island.

Another element to consider is the disruption to the community. We have seen the disruption that the repairs to Victoria Avenue have caused. Imagine the seven years or more of chaos.

We are also told that our hospital and health care is at full stretch, so with all the people who will fill not only the proposed office space, but also the apartments as well, how will the Island cope? Another factor is the pull on commodities such as water, electricity, main drains etc.

And will our schools cope with the extra demand? The question has already been raised as to where the workforce will come from and live during this time.

Night after night the property pages of the JEP are full of units for sale or rental, so why are so many more new units being built?

Again, where are the people coming from who may eventually buy these? The recession is not over by any means, jobs are still being lost and causing a rise in unemployment figures, and houses are being repossessed.

Finance is not a magic wand. Great caution should be taken before an Island such as ours takes this leap into a project which could become a liability.

Moving the underpass and losing the established Esplanade car park are two areas which should not change – they work and car parking spaces are at a premium.

Losing Gas Place will mean one less place to park, but losing the Esplanade parking area as well will cause more problems. More shops to be available? Why, when units in St Helier are struggling to stay viable? Open spaces, winter gardens – the list goes on. Again, why?

Fort Regent could be turned into a superb winter garden, and reinstate the pool – a badly needed facility. One tourist attraction, plus an educational one, would be to create a walk through aquarium, maybe in the rotunda.

The more populated the Island becomes the more it will cost to run, just as any large business. We have residents and traffic almost to bursting point.

If, as we are led to believe, money is short and cuts must be made, then good housekeeping must prevail. Stop bringing over advisers to tell us what to do. This is what our States representatives should be doing.

Why should someone be telling us how to save money when staying in a hotel at great cost to the tax payer? Our government employs its own accountants and auditors and they are the ones who should be advising us on how to save.

We may want to rush into the next century, but when the system works why change it? If a change to the system doesn’t work then don’t be afraid to admit it and do a U-turn. The committee system did work for the way Jersey was.

The present system is not working. One minister should not be able to make a decision on his or her own –the committee system was a fairer system.

Stopping prescription charges when it looked as if money in this department was plentiful was such an un-business like move. Keeping the charges would have helped build up a good bank balance within this department. I believe charges will be reinstated? A U-turn?

The Island needs a rest from over development. If the north of the town plan goes ahead, again there will be disruption. Also the long awaited Town Park is due for development. It is enough to make us pack our bags and catch the next boat in the morning.

The Island has much to offer and I believe is still a unique place. How can somewhere so small give so much – our history, beaches, scenery, valleys and so on. But for how long? There must be time, surely, when the house full sign will have to be put up.

Please can we have a breather, catch up with what we have, take time out, instead of wanting more and more.