‘Drop town square vanity project’

‘Drop town square vanity project’

Deputy Jeremy Maçon has lodged a proposition asking the States to block the £2 million scheme to remove the link road between Route de la Libération and the Esplanade, and instead use the money to fund pedestrian-safety and traffic-calming measures around the Island.

The proposals to merge the squares as part of plans to celebrate Liberation 75 next year have faced fierce criticism from business leaders and other Islanders.

Earlier this week, the Jersey Chamber of Commerce said the plans were being rushed through with little consultation and warned that removing the road would cause ‘disruption, delays and frustration’.

Dozens of Islanders have voiced concerns online, saying that the project, which began after a funding request from the Bailiff’s Chambers was approved in the 2019 Budget, would cause traffic chaos in town and reduce access to shops and restaurants in the area.

In the report accompanying his proposition, Deputy Maçon said that the £2 million should instead be spent on road safety measures.

‘This is clearly a vanity project and the money could be better spent within the Infrastructure Department. I’d personally like this to be used on pedestrian safety and traffic-calming measures, as I know the Infrastructure Department has a long list of improvements,’ he wrote.

In the report he cited a letter from a constituent in St Saviour No 1 district who said that if both squares were needed for next year’s Liberation Day celebrations, the dividing road could be closed temporarily.

‘The resulting congestion and traffic delays [from permanently closing the road] would result in an increase in emissions, increase in stress, increase in travel times, decrease in time with family. Emissions will also increase, as people will have to drive far further than they have to now.

‘If both areas need to be used and the road closed off for a specific event, then we have cones and honorary police or the States of Jersey police for that job,’ the constituent wrote.

Plans were put on show at Jersey Museum earlier this week, and Islanders can give feedback on the project by visiting gov.je. Deputy Maçon’s proposition is due to be debated on 30 April.

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