Senator Cohen fulfilling his promise to the electorate

[Jason the Maverick]

Luxury flats and houses overlooking Portelet Bay have been approved by the Environment Minister.
 
Senator Freddie Cohen gave Dandara permission to build on the former Portelet Holiday Village yesterday in the face of strong opposition from heritage campaigners and his own department.

He said that the high quality design by UK architect Sir Richard MacCormac had persuaded him to approve the controversial plans.

Yesterday, at the public meeting, members of the National Trust and Save Jersey’s Heritage, as well as planning officer Roy Webster, told Senator Cohen that the development was too big and should be refused.

But Senator Cohen said that approving the development was fulfilling his promise to the Jersey electorate.

How did he work that one out?

[AHITS]

But Senator Cohen said that approving the development was fulfilling his promise to the Jersey electorate.

From Cohen's election manifesto, the same one he claims he was dutifuly following when allowing the Portlet development:

"In recent years we have failed to respect Jersey's traditional architecture. We must ensure that our Island heritage is reflected in new buildings constructed. It costs no more to design and build well."

That says one thing to me about Cohen.

[sonofsilence]

ITS CLEAR TO EVERYONE ...... GOVERNMENT + DANDARA = SHAFTING THE PUBLIC, COHEN'S JUST ANOTHER PHONY

[ageofaquarius]

ITS CLEAR TO EVERYONE ...... GOVERNMENT + DANDARA = SHAFTING THE PUBLIC, COHEN'S JUST ANOTHER PHONY

i agree!

[Jason the Maverick]

"Jersey's Planning minister says he'll resign if the States don't approve his masterplan for the Waterfront on Tuesday.

Senator Freddie Cohen is pinning his political future on the controversial scheme.

The key to the scheme is 'sinking' the main road to create a tunnel with buildings above.

This, he argues, makes the project financially viable. It also means tall towers wont have to be built on the site.

But the scheme isn't likely to get an easy ride".

Any comments?  Seems a bit rash.

[Pomme de terre]

Have a watch of the interview at http://www5.channelonline.tv/news/templates/cinews2.aspx?articleid=14914&zoneid=1

His attitude is "the waterfront has been my focus, I intend to sort it out, if I don't resolve it I will have failed, therefore I should go."

On the one hand, admirable sentiments that more politicians should display.

On the other, throwing his toys out of the pram a bit early, as he seems incapable of listening to any plan but the Hopkins plan.

Everyone wants the waterfront sorted; many just don't like the Hopkins plan.

[Jason the Maverick]

Terry Le Sueur did something similar with his GST.... From memory.

[Pomme de terre]

He did. One day, someone's bluff will be called 

[Jason the Maverick]

It will be interesting this.  I don't think Mr Cohen has been that popular since 'he got in' so far.....

[boatyboy]

Senator Cohen sits on the board of  of the Jersey Heritage Trust
(a quango ) that used taxpayers money to buy out Pure Adventure for £500,000.
The money came from ESC budget therefore Senator Vibert who gave the money was quizzed. He is on record as saying he cannot stop them making their own decisions. Free hand then JHT. Senator Cohen is Minister for planning, he fully supports the creation of the Jersey Enterprise Board another quango.


Mr. R. Law:
In the U.K. I am not -- all my remarks relate to the U.K. experience. In other words, the market has turned quite savagely.

Senator F.E. Cohen:

Yes. Well, I would comment in 2 ways. Firstly, I concentrate on the £50 million, which as I understand it would be bank guaranteed, although I have not seen the deal. That is a private arrangement between Waterfront Enterprise Board and the developer,

http://www.scrutiny.gov.je/view_doc.asp?doc=documents/pubhearings/S-21045-7651-2842008.htm&panelid=47&reviewid=74&target=tran

[danrok]

From Cohen's election manifesto, the same one he claims he was dutifuly following when allowing the Portlet development:

"In recent years we have failed to respect Jersey's traditional architecture. We must ensure that our Island heritage is reflected in new buildings constructed. It costs no more to design and build well."

That says one thing to me about Cohen.

Yes, it is possible to design and build good buildings without spending a fortune.

However, I don't see how it would be possible to build traditional looking Jersey style houses without spending a lot of money.  Local granite is very expensive.

So, he has contradicted himself there.

[boatyboy]

Interestingly and a little suprisingly Freddie high priest of planning decided to not vote thereby abstaining,  both from the Incinerator debate and also the funding for the incinerator. So there will many opinions as to why ? but I would suggest he is not happy with the new incinerator or the funding. Clearly if you like something you vote positively or " POUR ". It would make an interesting interview for the BBC or others to ask him why he did not cast his vote supporting the rest of the Council of Secrets ?

[ryanmorrison]

I haven't got the exact quote to hand but he basically told the States that it was because he felt he couldn't vote due to his duel role of planning and environment minister.

Basically he was the one that approved the design of the building and gave it planning permission but as he also responsible for environmental concerns - he felt he shouldn't cast a vote.

Paul le Claire's response to this was "The Minister is hopelessly tied by his quite right declaration that he is unable to contribute today because of his consideration in the future from the planning side of things.

"But I would have expected given the environmental concerns and the environmental health concerns and the Ramsar site concerns that the Minister or at least hopefully the Assistant Minister would have prepared a significant contribution for today's debate."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/jersey/content/articles/2008/07/09/ministry_of_change_feature.shtml

[Eastern correspondent]

I took some visitors to Noirmont last week - the new Dandara Dens to quote Prince Charles are a CARBUNCLE on the landscape................what was St Fred thinking of?

[ageofaquarius]

I see he had a small piece in the jep yesterday wanting to have an exension on his house to house family, guess he has no problem with planing eh!