Deputies urged to back youth facility plan

Land earmarked for a new primary school in Jersey could be temporarily used for youth facilities including a skatepark and climbing wall if a proposal is backed by deputies.

Deputy David Warr lodged the proposal for "meanwhile" use of the Gas Place site while plans to use it to build a new primary school are ongoing.

Warr said it was "extraordinary" that due to other sites closing the 5,000 local children would not have a place for indoor activities by the end of 2025.

Speaking about plans to build a school on the site, Deputy Rob Ward, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, said "I think it's just time to get on with it."

In his proposal, Warr highlighted the closure of youth facilities at Fort Regent for three years, Tamba Park, Amaizin Maze and the town Skate Park.

"By the end of 2025 there will be absolutely no free in-door provision in St Helier for 5,000 children.

"It's quite extraordinary and it angers me to think that this is being allowed to happen.

"An in-door skate facility combined with other activities such as a climbing wall, a tarmac pump track on Gas Place wasteland could be used by skaters, bikers and wheelchairs plus it's on the doorstep of most of the island's secondary schools."

Warr said: "The health and wellbeing of our teenage population which is already problematic post COVID, is being compromised... it affects all of us.

"Not using this brownfield site now whilst further plans are developed is an incredible waste of resources.

"We must do all we can to prevent poor health and wellbeing outcomes rather than waiting three years for them to surface. Surely that is a major policy choice."

He added: "I believe that it will be possible to raise sufficient funds through a combination of charitable donations, sponsorship and goodwill."

Constable Simon Crowcroft has called for the decision to build a school on the site to be reconsidered due to decreasing birth rates and a lack of open spaces in St Helier.

Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Deputy Rob Ward, said the plans for the school would already be in place if it was not for "constant delay".

"We've been through the discussions before," he said.

"The assembly has voted repeatedly to support the school.

"What we do have to understand is that the new school will be a replacement for what are buildings that we really don't want out children to be educated in, with a lack of space and green space.

"I think it's just time to get on with it."

The earliest date Warr's proposal could be debated is 8 July.

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