Weighbridge and Liberation Square trial merger postponed

Channel
Monday 29 April 2019 at 6:11am

Artist's impression of the new square in St Helier Credit: Government of Jersey

A trial road closure between Weighbridge Place and Liberation Square in Jersey has been postponed at the eleventh hour.

It was due to start this morning but the island's Infrastructure Minister and Chief Minister agreed with comments that it wouldn't accurately show the impact on traffic, due to bank holidays and school closures.

There are plans to merge the two public spaces permanently ahead of the 75th Liberation Day celebrations next year.

But the project, which is expected to cost £3 million has been described as a 'vanity project'.

A recent public survey showed that a significant proportion of islanderswere concerned about the project’s cost, design and impact on traffic.

In making his decision to postpone the trial, the Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Kevin Lewis also considered the number of bank holidays over the period and the risk that the trial’s results would not accurately reflect the road’s normal use.

He said 'the Government has committed to being more inclusive and to listening to the public, and we are doing just that'.

At this moment, I want to reflect on the feedback from the recent public consultation and, because of the timing of the trial, I felt that the results would be inconclusive and not address the wider concerns expressed by the public, if we went ahead today. The Chief Minister has asked my officers and me to review the project in light of those emerging issues. The Government has committed to being more inclusive and to listening to the public, and we are doing just that. I will be discussing the next steps with my ministerial colleagues and will present the revised options in due course. The Liberation was the single most significant event in Jersey’s modern history, and I think it is sensible that there is a short pause now so that we commemorate the 75th anniversary in a way that has public agreement.

Reacting to the news of the postponement, Jersey's Chamber of Commerce said the trial 'would have been flawed' and say it's 'encouraged' that the Chief Minister & Minister are listening to public pressure.