Future use of former town gas site put into question

Wednesday, 4 June 2025 10:00

The former gasworks site in St Helier in the spotlight again, with Town Constable Simon Crowcroft asking that its use for a new primary school be revisited.

The Constable of St Helier wants the land to be used to create more green space in town.

It comes as the population of St Helier grows as more flats are being built in the island's capital to address the housing shortage in Jersey.

Constable Crowcroft says, three years on from the last time politicians debated use of the old gasworks site, it is time to look again at it.

"The Millennium Town Park is already at capacity in the summer.

"There are thousands of new residents living in the area who would benefit more from an extension (of the park), rather than a large building project."

He believes more people should be able to use the land, rather than just children, as it can be a place for the whole family, the elderly and visitors in general.

Constable Crowcroft says people only need to think back to the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 to understand the value of more parkland.

"This kind of space was really essential for people living in the area.

"Town really needs its green land."

The proposition asks the Education Minister to look at the data again and reconsider whether we need another primary school in town, with dwindling numbers of students.

"I think we need more data, and we need more information.

"If that information is forthcoming, then next year I would want to come to the States and ask them to formally adopt the plan to extend the park.

"We need a lot more green space and trees and just places where people can relax in town."