From Ken Taylor.
I READ with absolute amazement, only a few days ago, that our Chief Minister stated that the Island could cope with 100,000 population.
He really should get out more. I mean, if he ventured into the real world, he would discover that we have around that figure now (not on paper but in reality).
We have 115,000+ vehicles. Our hospital, waste disposal and most other services are stretched to the limit and trying their best to cope. Our roads are starting to break up again under heavy use, and something which often goes unnoticed is the fact that more than 80 hotels or guesthouses have closed in the past dozen years. Now all of these are apartments or houses and contain permanent residents, and we still can’t build property fast enough to keep pace with the incoming immigrants.
Meanwhile, Harcourt seem to be hell-bent on going ahead with that second finance centre whether it is needed or not. So, once they have got paid, we can look forward to ten years of misery and disruption . . . and then how much immigrant labour to fill 15 tower blocks of offices?
I don’t think I am alone in my concern about overpopulation. Every day there are letters or articles in your paper: Question: why are our ministers ignoring public concern? I believe that if immigration had been capped some five or so years ago, most of the problems — the overworked services, traffic chaos, high cost of living, the overbuilding of accommodation — would not have occurred.
But of course it is too late to put it right now, for the Jersey we knew even ten years ago has gone forever. There must, though, be a bright side somewhere . . .
Yes, of course, summer is coming and we may see a tourist. Or even two!
14 Halcyon House,
West Hill,
St Helier.
