Current Projects - Ann Court
As you will have read, this association has been born out of the Ann Court issue. Please be assured that this will not be our sole focus and we will keep you updated on other issues as and when they occur. Below is an explanation as to the Ann Court Situation.
2nd December 1997, a 16,000 signature petition was presented to the States of Jersey showing that there is substantial public support for a public Town Park with underground car park on the land currently comprising the public car park at Gas Place and the private car park occupying the site of the former Gas Company offices and workshops, the whole situate between Bath Street and the new Gas Company offices.
Since this time, the States of Jersey have committed to delivering the town park however, due to the cost of disposing of the contaminated soil that would need to be excavated to make way for the underground parking, the States of Jersey have decided not to go ahead with underground parking. Instead, they have sourced an alternative site, and housing have turned Ann Court over to Transport and Technical Services in order that an 800 space multi-storey car park can be built on the site. Another part of the plan is also to demolish Minden Place car park
Ann Court housed many elderly residents, and is also situated in an extremely residential area with all four sides of the site being bordered by housing, or proposed housing. There is also already heavy congestion on the area.
We are opposed to this proposition on a number of levels:-
Ann Court is an ideal site for shelter accommodation. It is close to town and in easy walking distance to the shops. During our petitioning, we have spoken with some of the old residents of Ann Court who have been moved to accommodation further out of town. Some have found it difficult to get into town and miss the social aspect they had living in the Ann Court area. With an existing waiting list for sheltered accommodation, and an increasingly aging population, we should not be disposing of ideal sites to parking.
To put a car park in such a residential area with greatly affect the quality of life for residents. Not only will they be subjected to increased traffic noise, air pollution, and the anti social behaviour so often associated with car parks, but there are also road safety issues. With so many residents, many of them children, you are opening up the possibility of accidents with pedestrians.
This area of town already suffers traffic congestion and most mornings, traffic is backed up Charles Street, Minden Place and Bath Street. Building a car park in this area could only add to the congestion therefore bringing more misery to car drivers.
We believe that the site should not be turned over to parking. The States of Jersey should be looking at other options including:-
Review of other sites on the town outskirts for a multi-storey to include, but not limited to, an extension to Green Street multi-storey and Snow Hill (a site where the States of Jersey have previously agreed to place a multi-storey car park)
Giving consideration to a low level multi-storey car park at gas place with a roof top park
To consider injecting more money into the transport system to provide a better bus services to cover more areas in the country parishes, and to provide a more frequent service.
To readdress a hoppa bus service in the town area
To consider the provision of more cycle lanes and provision of facilities for cyclists
If you agree with the above and are opposed to the development of a multi-storey car park at Ann Court, please download our petition and get as many signatures as you can. Then either drop it down to us outside Poundworld on one of the next Saturdays, or email us and we'll arrange to pick it up from you.
If you have any comments regarding the above, please feel free to add you thoughts to our forum.
 FINAL PETITION.pdf | [ ] | 16 Kb | 02/03/09 06:02 |
