'Politicians not listening' over new school plans

Bernie Manning questioned the need for a new school

Politicians in Jersey are not listening to residents' concerns over plans to build a primary school, a campaign group says.

It was previously agreed by the States Assembly to build a new school near Millennium Park in St Helier, on a site that was formerly used by Jersey Gas.

Although it is a government decision to earmark the site for a new primary school, Chair of the Friends of Millennium Park Bernie Manning, said he wanted deputies to do more to reflect local opinion. He does not think a new school is needed and would rather see the park extended.

Reform Jersey leader Sam Mézec dismissed claims his local deputies, who are eight of St Helier's 13 deputies, were not engaging with residents.

He said his party had a "strong history" of supporting the park.

Several different uses have been suggested for the Gas Place site

Discussions over whether the Gas Place site should be turned into a school or an extension of Millennium Park have been rumbling for some time.

Mr Manning told the BBC he did not think local deputies were doing enough to reflect the views of residents.

"With the amount of people now using the park, we definitely need to extend the park all the way to St Saviour's Road," he said.

Birth rate fall

He also questioned the need for a school and criticised local politicians for not engaging with residents and looking at alternatives.

"Most of the St Helier deputies don't seem to be listening. With the amount of babies being born at the moment, do we still need a school?" he said.

The number of babies born in Jersey fell by almost 10% in 2024 compared to the year before, figures show.

"Most people that we have spoken to said they did not think we needed a school, and a lot didn't even know about it. They told us they would rather have a park extension, and the school go somewhere else," he added.

Reform Jersey leader Sam Mézec says the group's deputies are "active and engaging"

Mr Manning accused local politicians of a "failure to consult the public", and singled out Reform Jersey's eight deputies in the parish.

Asked whether this was an issue for government rather than local politicians, he said: "We're trying to get a meeting with the minister, but there are 13 deputies in St Helier, so if we can push forward with those 13, that would be a good start.

"I'd like politicians to reconsider whether this is a suitable location for a school.

"Maybe they could extend existing schools, or redevelop the old social security building and school house at La Motte Street," he said.

In a statement, Mézec said his party had "a strong history in support of the creation of, protection of, and extension of, the Millennium Town Park".

He said they had previously supported the park's extension but were now focused on "the delivery of a new school on part of the gas works site, with an extension of the park onto the remainder of the site, and a designation of what will become the old Springfield School into a new park".

Dismissing the suggestion that his deputies were not listening to residents, he said: "Reform Jersey's deputies are some of the most active and engaging, as we hold open constituency surgeries every week.

Need is 'increasing'

"I also live right next to the Millennium Park. In my experience, those I speak to appreciate our previous attempts to get the park extended, but recognise the desperate need for a new school and that our proposed way forward, or new open space and a park, will drastically improve life for people living the area."

Deputy Rob Ward, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, said it was "absolutely clear" that the "level of need in our schools is increasing".

"This new site will provide a purpose-built facility for our children, including children with the greatest need who are currently in La Passerelle Primary School.

"The plan is to close St Lukes and Springfield schools, both of which are in ageing buildings which lack space internally and externally to meet the current standards.

"It is simply not possible to spend money on these two schools and achieve the facilities and outcomes our children and staff deserve.

"A new two-form entry school at Gas Place does not increase the number of classes but replaces them with modern fit-for-purpose facilities."