Access roads to Overdale (FOI)

Request

I would like to ask for publication of the drawings, however rough they may be, of the new hospital access plan via Westmount Road which was put forward to the States and is now on hold as a result of an amendment by the Constable of St Helier to ensure that alternatives are investigated.

I have seen one drawing but it is not clear from that what the effect would be on the areas around the People's Park, including the paths, the trees, shrubs and car parking areas along the park and at the former Inn on the Park - should no acceptable alternative be found and it goes ahead.

I would also like to ask for publication of the drawings, however rough they may be, of the initial plan for access from St Aubin's Road to the new hospital. I would like everyone to know what was being proposed and how it would have affected the King George V Homes and the environment.

Response

Following the States Assembly vote to adopt the Constable of St Helier’s amendment to p.123/2020 a Transport Report is being produced that will be presented to the States Assembly for approval. This Report will include the information requested and will be published on the States Assembly website within 12 weeks of this request. This information is therefore exempt in accordance with Article 36 (Information intended for future publication) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

Article applied

Article 36 - Information intended for future publication

(1) Information is qualified exempt information if, at the time when the request for the information is made, the information is being held by a public authority with a view to its being published within 12 weeks of the date of the request.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant –

(a) of the date when the information will be published;

(b) of the manner in which it will be published; and

(c) by whom it will be published.

(3) In this Article, “published” means published –

(a) by a public authority; or

(b) by any other person.

Public Interest Test

Whilst disclosure of the information might potentially support transparency, it is considered that publishing incomplete information could cause unnecessary uncertainty for stakeholders. Please note that the exact date of publication is not known at this point in time, but it is anticipated that it will fall within the 12-week timeframe set out under Article 36.