Fame forever

[Mark Forskitt]

When they rename it The Senator Maclean Serendipity Park.

[man in the street]

i for one am glad to see us get the millenium park, already overdue starting by 9 years.
 do you think they will try to wriggle out of it?.
more sabre rattling on raised taxes???
can you hear it, "we have found  more toxicity in the soil" (more cost)
 and a host of other extra expenses.
 i hope i am so wrong here, but its what ive come to expect.

[imacrappaud]

i for one am glad to see us get the millenium park, already overdue starting by 9 years.
 do you think they will try to wriggle out of it?.
more sabre rattling on raised taxes???
can you hear it, "we have found  more toxicity in the soil" (more cost)
 and a host of other extra expenses.
 i hope i am so wrong here, but its what ive come to expect.

I agree with you there Man in the street, personally i dont care about the park itself as I don't live in town or work in town but I am sick to death of the excuses and changes being made. It makes me laugh that the signs forthe park are so old they are fading, bit like our government really. But then again they couldnt see the recession coming 9 years ago or they wouldnt have promissed the park. Thats sarcasm by the way!

[Goreyman]

Geoff Southern's wife's letter in JEP today

Was Senator’s move a matter of conscience?

WHAT a splendid irony it is that Senator
Maclean apparently pushed the wrong
button when voting, so delivering funding
for the Town Park, principally for the enjoyment
of his erstwhile voters in St Helier
No 2 District.
When he stood for election in this district
in 2005 he, like other candidates,
promised to deliver this park.
Unfortunately, once elected and on the
road to his present Senatorial and ministerial
eminence, this promise, like the one to
oppose GST, was conveniently forgotten.
I would like to think that he did not so
much make a mistake at the conclusion of
Friday’s debate, more that he was prompted
by the inner workings of his conscience.
All those eager for the delivery of the
green lung in this part of St Helier must be
grateful

From Maclean's 2005 manifesto

The Millennium Town Park was approved in 2000 by the States and has suffered enough delay. It represents a wonderful opportunity to create a valuable community facility. The ’Le Seelleur’ building adjacent to Gas Place was left to the states but has remained boarded up and derelict for many years. This is a disgrace. Why has no proposal been considered for a joint venture with the private sector to create a community facility? How many other under utilised or derelict properties are there in the States property portfolio? A full review is urgently required

Maybe now the other States member like Jeune and Vallois will have the same button pushing problems i.e. they will vote the way the public elected them to do from their manifestoes

[imacrappaud]

What the F, this guy has stated in his manifesto that he wanted to go ahead with it then doesnt even have the decency to make up a story why he voted against it but instead admits, by his actions that his manifesto was a load of cobblers and makes up an excuse for voting for it!

I am confused, maybe he deliberatly voted for it but when he realised it wasnt such a forgone conclusion he checked which ones of his mates voted against it and then tried a damage limitation exercise!! Either way, what a plum.

Also, regarding damage limitation didnt Phil O state that all it was was to agree to giving funding once their, I am guessing, UK consultants have decided on whether it was viable or not. Regardless, it seems to me like it was just another pointless load of claptrap to let people think they are actually making progress.

Call me cynical. I am!

[Dylan]

What the F, this guy has stated in his manifesto that he wanted to go ahead with it then doesnt even have the decency to make up a story why he voted against it but instead admits, by his actions that his manifesto was a load of cobblers and makes up an excuse for voting for it!

I am confused, maybe he deliberatly voted for it but when he realised it wasnt such a forgone conclusion he checked which ones of his mates voted against it and then tried a damage limitation exercise!! Either way, what a plum.

Also, regarding damage limitation didnt Phil O state that all it was was to agree to giving funding once their, I am guessing, UK consultants have decided on whether it was viable or not. Regardless, it seems to me like it was just another pointless load of claptrap to let people think they are actually making progress.

Call me cynical. I am!

Just another pair of doughnuts!

[ole razzy]

So Alan Maclean wants to be famous forever? How will he manage it? The “Alan MacLean Serendipity Town Park” sure would be a great way to cast his name in stone for the next thousand years but surely he must want what all politicians want - a little instant gratification or as they say in the shady back rooms of PR consultancies - a "quick win"!

So what lengths must our modern politicians like Maclean go to to ensure they remain popular and to what extent are they prepared to try and guarantee it? I have the answer and that answer is none other than Glen Rankine - the Max Clifford of local politics except he's not as good looking. In fact it’s probably fair to say he's not very good looking at all.

I was best man at a wedding on Friday and ended up a bit tipsy in the champagne bar at the Grand Hotel about 5pm. And who should I spy tucked away on the corner table by the window and the bar but none other than Rankine and MacLean. And as they stooped over their Applemac's and talked about the 'spinternet' our politically savvy wedding entourage stared with open mouths at the sheer veracity of their decision to meet so publicly in such a champagne charlie setting. I mean the Granita was one thing but here we were surrounded by bottles of Perrier Jouet Belle Epoch. To be fair to Maclean he did look mightily uncomfortable when he got up to leave having realised that 30 pissed people had just crashed his cosy tete a tete but surely he should have known better?

I saw all this type of political nervousness and vanity emerging in the lead up to ministerial government and then more so with the advent of the comms unit but I'd naively hoped that maybe this kind of clandestine activity was on the wane. Sadly not it would appear. We are seemingly living in an age where our leading politicians are now unable to simply tell it how it is and instead must rely upon hired hands to meter out good news.

So what do you reckon they discussed? My money was on the St. Helier boat owner’s decision to go against the plans for the redevelopment of the marina but other guests thought falling visitor numbers and the redundancies at Durrell were equally as likely.  Anyone else care to speculate?

[Dylan]

Geoff Southern's wife's letter in JEP today

Was Senator’s move a matter of conscience?

WHAT a splendid irony it is that Senator
Maclean apparently pushed the wrong
button when voting, so delivering funding
for the Town Park, principally for the enjoyment
of his erstwhile voters in St Helier
No 2 District.
When he stood for election in this district
in 2005 he, like other candidates,
promised to deliver this park.
Unfortunately, once elected and on the
road to his present Senatorial and ministerial
eminence, this promise, like the one to
oppose GST, was conveniently forgotten.
I would like to think that he did not so
much make a mistake at the conclusion of
Friday’s debate, more that he was prompted
by the inner workings of his conscience.
All those eager for the delivery of the
green lung in this part of St Helier must be
grateful

From Maclean's 2005 manifesto

The Millennium Town Park was approved in 2000 by the States and has suffered enough delay. It represents a wonderful opportunity to create a valuable community facility. The ’Le Seelleur’ building adjacent to Gas Place was left to the states but has remained boarded up and derelict for many years. This is a disgrace. Why has no proposal been considered for a joint venture with the private sector to create a community facility? How many other under utilised or derelict properties are there in the States property portfolio? A full review is urgently required

Maybe now the other States member like Jeune and Vallois will have the same button pushing problems i.e. they will vote the way the public elected them to do from their manifestoes

I tried several times to buy the Le Seelleur Building, I even got one of the Islands larger contractors to come up with a scheme which preserved the building. The problem being that the building should be put to "the benefit of people with learning difficulties" (by a covenant).
Having taken all that on board, SOJ could have marketed it and put the money to the same use. Instead a WKR called Rondel, who doesn't understand the position says "we mustn't sell off the family jewels". For someone who is "respected" by his mates in St John, he had completely fkd up the offers being made to the "benefit of people with learning difficulties", instead, they got nothing and he got a pat on the back from his greedy pals.

[ole razzy]

I tried several times to buy the Le Seelleur Building, I even got one of the Islands larger contractors to come up with a scheme which preserved the building. The problem being that the building should be put to "the benefit of people with learning difficulties" (by a covenant).
Having taken all that on board, SOJ could have marketed it and put the money to the same use. Instead a WKR called Rondel, who doesn't understand the position says "we mustn't sell off the family jewels". For someone who is "respected" by his mates in St John, he had completely fkd up the offers being made to the "benefit of people with learning difficulties", instead, they got nothing and he got a pat on the back from his greedy pals.

Maybe he thought it could be used as a sensory room for States members during their lunch breaks? Would be a bit of a trek from the Royal Square but they could always re-allocate free private parking spaces in Gas Place car park (seeing as they have no intention of turning it into a park for the people of Jersey). Maybe Phil would like to draft a proposition?

[man in the street]

how sad it is the see the le seelleur workshop  slowly rot.
 this is not the only property that was left to the good of the people of jersey.
 anyone know where the others are and what has happened to them.
 the last time i was in the workshop,i was amazed at the place , it must of been a hub of local construction in its day.
i fail to see why, the plan from gordon browns people ,could not be implemented.
 the bridge(old st marks school) has a sensory room, but as a whole , with, what other things go on there , is more than likely underfunded.
 the public should find out what is curently left to rot, when it could be doing, somthing as a benifit to us all both poor and rich..

[ole razzy]

Tim Tim nice but dim's been at it again. He really should stop meeting Glen Rankine in secretive corners of champagne bars in order to get some good PR. Besides it must be costing him a fortune.

So earlier in the week we get this little gem.

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/03/16/minister-relax-planning-rules-for-supermarket/

Then we get this;

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/03/18/we-do-have-room-for-a-supermarket/

And guess what? The site for the proposed supermarket in town is right next the millenium town park. What a silly billy!

[rogueelement]

A new supermarket is required in Jersey to offer a challenge to the virtual monopoly enjoyed by the co-op and safeways.
Anywhere it was built would be a huge affront to the neighbours and the greenies would go berserk if any land currently nesting the rag toothed , blowjawed invisible frog was used.
The answer ? A site owned by Le Masurier in the middle of town, with several parking areas close by and no doubt a private car park could be built. where is it?  midway up Bath St , currently an ugly mess of dilapidated pubs, shops and run down (no doubt on purpose) buildings . What a fabulous place to get a supermarket up and running, apparently they have been attempting to deal with planning since 2006 , so no surprise there at all.
Just a quick question on the matter of windows, does Ma Con use round or square specs?

[Dundee]

The ideal site would be on the waterfront - carparking there, good road system nearby for east and west access, and the food would come off the boat and straight on the shelves.
Simples, even Macon could work it out.

[ole razzy]

In asnwer to Sparty, agreed. Mostly. The real issue for me is to what extent does government protect and insulate from market forces.

I started a thread on the Millennuin Town park ages ago and advocated the importance of regenerating that very run down part of St. Helier. I did so because I grew up around there and my family still live there so I know how important a catalyst it would be for change, and not just in environmental terms but social also. In fact my family have been involved with supporting the concept since the start, some 15 years ago. I'm street!

And because of that I can put my hand on my heart and say that I'm 90% sure that nobody living on or around Bath Street would have any grave concerns about the impact on the area if a third supermarket were to be installed on the Odeon site - so long as the town park project was delivered as originally promised by the States.

So I'm all for more consumer choice, lower prices, a better standard of living for town residents and for the protection of the environment that we currently can enjoy.

The only real concern I've got, having read a couple of UK reports, is the impact that companies like Tesco's and Sanisbury's have had on regional town centres.  But I guess we need to leave something for the politicians to work out for themselves? Wake up Timmy?

Check out this article which spells out the dangers http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2009/08/10/tesco-opted/ and from which many of the arguments featured will ironically also be seized upon by Ray Shead and his COC mates.

[ole razzy]

I see Tim Tim nice but Dim's off on his travel's. Inspired no doubt by his mate Ozouf's numerous soujourn's to far flung and sexily exotic places. This time Jersey's off to Israel http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/09/17/trade-mission-to-israel/ in order to develop economic activity with the middleastern nuclear state. Dont push any button's or take your ring binder while your being showed around the facilities Al! I also hope he has time to fit in a quick talk with Hammas over the border in Gaza. Will be a great photo opportunity with Iyad Shilbaye - What's that? the Israelis just killed the Hammas leader? http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1585220.php/Israeli-soldiers-kill-Hamas-leader-in-West-Bank-Roundup- Well maybe best off avoiding the palestinians this time round!

Seriously though I don't really mind if the odd politican goes out to try and develop trade links - even if the country concerned has a dubious record on human rights (which might sound odd but my theory is that you don't do it somebody else will) - so long as the full cost of the exercise is made public and that within a given timeframe an offical government report is published informing the public how much actual business came about as a result.