CHIEF Minister Terry Le Sueur has said that Jersey should still aim for a population of 96,000 – despite opposition expressed by some Islanders.
Last month Senator Le Sueur sparked heated debate when he claimed that Jersey could cope with a population of 100,000. Later he revealed that projected immigration levels in the Strategic Plan could increase the population by 5,000 by 2035, acknowledging for the first time that he was planning for a peak of 100,000.
Following this, dozens of Islanders posted comments on www.thisisjersey.com and wrote to the JEP letters page voicing concerns over the projected population increase. Senator Le Sueur has now said that he was aware of the concern, but added that Jersey would have no problem sustaining the population levels over time.
He said: ‘With the suggested net inward migration we would peak at about 96,000, and I believe that this is sustainable and is necessary to pay for an ageing population. I have no desire to see the population go over this, but if it did it would not create any problems with regard to hospital services, sewers and roads.’
Pictured: Senator Terry Le Sueur
