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Campaigners angry at tree and wildlife destruction

Environmental campaigners in Jersey say they're furious trees and shrubs have been removed from a St Helier car park to make way for a new financial centre.

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Jersey shoreline protection campaigners angry over tree removal at the Esplanade

Shoreline protection campaigners and some St Helier Deputies are angry that trees have been cleared at the Esplanade Car park.

Work to remove vegetation at the site of the future Finance Centre is underway.

Some people are angry that the trees are being removed without a start date for the project.

However the States Environment Department has refuted the claims saying the removal of the trees is related to a separate planning application that has already been approved.

The removal of the trees and shrubs carried out by the States of Jersey Development Company (SoJDC) relates to the planning permission for building no. 4 on the Esplanade Quarter site, which was approved in August 2013. This work is not related to the current planning application for building no. 5 which has not yet been determined.

The planning permission for building no. 4 allowed for the construction of a temporary car park (south of the underpass) on which work has commenced, with the full agreement of Planning and Building Services.

The recent removal of the trees and shrubs on the Esplanade car park was accepted as part of the planning permission for building no.4. Whilst the department has not agreed final replacement landscape details with SoJDC, it accepts that the removal of the current planting accords with the planning permission.

Whilst it has been claimed that some wildlife has been removed from the site the department is not aware of any breaches of the Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000.

– Department of the Environment statement
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Campaigners angry at tree and wildlife destruction

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