Select a region
If you ask someone if they add carrots to their bean jar or not I guarantee you would spark a lively debate on much more than the mere inclusion of the carrot.
I find it heart-warming that whatever else is happening, as a species we are united by our ability to fixate on seemingly unimportant matters.
At the outset of 2024 we knew that the island’s finances were in trouble. We have a new P&R in charge of the States, but the same problems remain.
There are long waiting lists for some medical procedures, the cost of housing and the lack of available properties is causing distress to many, and at the time of writing there is still no agreed way of paying for Education’s planned building work at Les Ozouets.
As I am writing this very sentence, there are political machinations in play to solve that particular problem but I am sure another issue will arise.
There is so much resting on the transformation of education programme – not only because of the impact it will have on education itself, but because freeing up the Coutanchez campus will create more space for housing.
We live on a small island with finite space, so all the space we have is increasingly valuable as our population grows alongside our demands for better standards of living.
With ‘spaces and places’ at the forefront of our minds while writing CONNECT this month we’ve tried to explore how our spaces are being used.
The States ongoing property rationalisation project could free up more space for housing if the Castel and King Edward hospital sites are ever fully vacated. How about building over carparks and using more creative solutions to storing parked cars? That’s been one idea for making better use of the land around Sir Charles Frossard House and Beau Sejour.
Paul Nobes of the Infinity group shared his inside knowledge on the building industry with us, including the potential benefits of the public/private partnership which Infinity is trialling with the Guernsey Housing Association.
New office blocks continue to pop up at Admiral Park too but they are far from the faceless grey office blocks of old.
Julius Baer and other businesses have made that part of St Peter Port their home and it’s clear to see why as the modern, vibrant facilities speak for themselves.
Beau Sejour is another location with multiple purposes. You might be there for sport one day then return another time for a ball, an awards ceremony, a vin d’honneur, or more. The woman in charge told us how they keep on top of the various demands for the leisure centre’s spaces.
We also took a trip out to Fermain where the tower has become a destination for tourists and those wanting a special staycation. It didn’t disappoint with breath taking views helping to clear away any January blues.
But, back to carrots, and that conversation in our office was sparked by a lunchtime trip to new eaterie ‘The
Bean Jar’.
It opened its doors in the Commercial Arcade late last year and Harry Smiles paid a visit for Bite Back.
In terms of filling a spot – it did that nicely, both in The Arcade and in Harry’s appetite.
Enjoy CONNECT (and your bean jar).
