Deputy Nicky Rob Ward made a strong case for the immediate priority for a new primary school. The community farm site is near Jersey’s Millennium Park, the old home of Jersey Gas. He posed in front of a statehouse-like building with a massive brown wood door and bright purple brick façade. With passion, he called the plans a “moral and civic priority.” His comments come as the government has already allocated funding for the project, signaling a commitment to enhance educational facilities in the area.
Ward stressed that further delaying the school’s construction is “not an option.” He pointed to the current facilities’ stark inadequacies that cannot be ignored and need an immediate update. He noted, “This isn’t about increasing capacity, it’s about replacing inadequate schools.” Deputy’s comments certainly express a wider vision for more considerate, cohesive planning that serves educational goals in addition to community goals.
Even with these plans laid out, community members share very different opinions about whether or not a new school is needed. Bernie Manning, chairman of Friends of Millennium Park, expressed doubt about the demand for more education space. As for extending Millennium Park, he told us that most of his organization’s members favor it. They do not want to see a new school constructed. Manning remarked, “With the amount of people now using the park, we definitely need to extend the park all the way to St Saviour’s Road.”
The debate continues as proposals to extend Millennium Park remain uncosted, raising questions about prioritization within the community. Manning condemned St Helier’s deputies for not doing enough to channel the views and feelings of public opinion in the community against the proposed school.
As talks continue, Ward is still committed. He stated, “We face a choice – thoughtful, integrated planning that meets educational, environmental, and community needs – or fragmented ideas that ignore the realities of our town.” His call to action highlights this hope for unity among resilient community members to build a better world going forward.
Taken together, the proposal for the new school and the potential extension of St Helier’s existing park underscores two very different visions for the community’s future. While Ward advocates for immediate action to replace outdated educational facilities, Manning and others in the community envision a different path focused on enhancing recreational spaces.