SEVERAL “ailing” primary schools need to be replaced, the Chief Minister has said.
During a Scrutiny hearing focused on his government’s Common Strategic Policy, Deputy Lyndon Farnham restated his support for a new primary school in St Helier.
The former Jersey Gas site adjacent to Millennium Town Park has been earmarked for a new school, although St Helier’s Constable, Simon Crowcroft, has proposed the space is used for a youth centre and indoor skate park while the new school is built elsewhere.
Speaking to the Common Strategic Policy review panel, Deputy Farnham said: “We are desperately in need of new primary school estate in St Helier, but we have capacity in other primary schools around the Island due to the falling birthrate and a reduction in predicted population.
“So we need to replace two or three, or possibly four ailing primary schools with two new ones.”
Deputy Farnham admitted there was disagreement within government – Mr Crowcroft is an Assistant Infrastructure Minister – and said that the matter would need to be “thrashed out” as soon as possible.
Deputy Catherine Curtis pointed out that the strategic policy, published last month and outlining the government’s objectives over the remaining two years of office, did not specifically mention the primary-school estate.
There would be concern from those living in the affected area of St Helier, she added, if there was any question that the school project would not be going ahead.
“It would have been helpful if there had been some certainty in the policy about what’s been decided,” she said.
Deputy Farnham said he had visited town primary schools such as Springfield, St Luke’s and Rouge Bouillon and was aware of the concerns of staff and the dilapidation that was present in some areas.
