New Name For Transport Centre

10 May 2007

Following public consultation, the Minister for Transport and Technical Services, Deputy Guy de Faye, has abandoned the working title for the new transport centre project being fitted out on the Old Abattoir Site on St Helier ’s Esplanade. In future the completed bus terminus will be entitled “Liberation Station”.

The search for a new name has been assisted by numerous suggestions (circa 50) from Islanders that reflected the history of the location, as well as acknowledgements of well known Jersey personalities.

The site itself contains a remnant of an earlier sea wall and, over the years, accommodated not only a slaughter house but also a railway station, with platforms to the rear of the existing Tourism Offices, which opened opportunities for several puns and witticisms, together with the option for translations of the building’s former functions into French or Jerriais.

Unfortunately, a number of submissions failed the basic requirement of being able to fit on the electronic displays on the front of the bus fleet. Additionally, it was considered that the title should contain some form of either geographical or functional reference, which eliminated the application of individual’s names.

“I wonder whether it is entirely coincidental that I came to have to take this particular decision at this time of the year” speculated Deputy de Faye.

He continued, “The bus operations will be contained within the Liberty Wharf site and are immediately adjacent to Liberation Square. Islanders will also appreciate the enormous significance of Liberation Day in the context of recent history. Whilst I realise that the Old Abattoir site has sad memories for some local people, as it was the gathering point for over one thousand deportees under German Occupation in 1942, I hope that the use of the word Liberation will add a positive note, recognising both relief from oppression and optimism for the future.”

“Without doubt, I am certain that the new facility represents an increasingly optimistic future for our local bus services and a more pleasant environment for traveller. I would also like to thank the media for their assistance in deriving a new name and, in particular, I am grateful to all those members of the public who offered a wide variety of creative contributions”