Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Details of how the States of Jersey will select one site for the island's new hospital have been published.

On Monday the government announced five sites had been short-listed for the project, which are required to undergo an assessment process before a final decision.

The report, external says the States is expected to debate the preferred site in November.

As part of the process, each site will be analysed for its cost and its impact on the local environment, surrounding area and infrastructure.

The list of sites includes St Andrew's Park, the People's Park, Overdale in St Helier, a group of fields near Five Oaks in St Saviour, and Millbrook playing field.

Islanders will be asked for their thoughts and suggestions on the short-listed sites in July, the report states.

Technical and impact assessments will be conducted by the Jersey-Spanish construction partnership ROK FCC during the summer months, after which the States will share "detailed assessments" with planning, the Jersey Architecture Commission and the Citizens’ Panel.

A report on the findings is expected by the end of September, ready for debate by the States Assembly in November.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Senator Steve Pallett has said mental health facilities "cannot be forgotten" in building plans for Jersey's new hospital.

Five sites in the island have been short-listed for the hospital, the government announced on Monday.

The assistant minister for Health and Social Services said mental health provisions had to be a "priority" for the States, regardless of where the hospital was based.

He said it could no longer be "second best" to physical care in the island.

The Deputy of St Martin Steve Luce echoed the recommendations, adding: "We don’t do well enough at the moment."

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Nearly 2,000 people are expected to travel between Jersey and St Malo this weekend, as the route restarts for the first time since March.

Condor Ferries said 1,240 passengers were due on board services to St Malo this weekend, with a further 508 people booked to arrive in Jersey from the French port.

On the first day of the sailings, 336 islanders will depart for St Malo, and 100 people will set sail for Jersey.

Condor had attempted to restart the service on two previous weekends amid the coronavirus pandemic, but were halted by industrial action from dock workers at St Malo's port.

Operations director for Condor Elwyn Dop said he was "delighted" for the sailings to recommence.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Jersey's construction industry should be "challenged" on its sustainability as part of the new island plan, Deputy Kirsten Morel has said.

The deputy for St Lawrence told the States Assembly that while the industry's energy efficiency had improved in recent years, ministers should ask them to "go further" in their efforts.

He said a three-year island plan currently being debated in the States was an "excellent opportunity" to demand construction companies to "up their game".

Deputy Morel also suggested that increased tree protection ought to be stipulated in the island plan to help offset more houses being built in the island.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

A St Helier deputy has told ministers the town is "full", after it was suggested housing developments should be concentrated in the island's main town centre.

Deputy Geoff Southern, who represents district two of St Helier, said the debate had become a "town versus country argument".

A consultation report, external published in December last year found that 71% of respondents supported plans to focus development in St Helier, with 78% expressing "resistance" to developing in the countryside.

However, Deputy Southern called for a ban on building in the island's 'green zones', external to be lifted, and said parishes outside of St Helier needed to "take their fair share" when it came to housing development.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Members of Jersey's States Assembly are sharing their views on the island's future plan.

The Minister for Environment, Deputy John Young, has proposed a three-year plan to cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister said a 10-year plan, as originally envisaged, would no longer be possible to deliver "given the current context".

An island plan details the issues facing Jersey in the coming years, and sets out how the government aims to tackle these problems.

A shorter-term strategy will act as a bridge between the end of the current plan in 2021, and a future plan from 2025-2034, the review states., external

Deputy Jess Perchard and Deputy Kevin Pamlin are among the members who have shown their support for the reduced timescale.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

One person in Jersey has been admitted to hospital with Covid-19, the island's government has confirmed.

The individual had tested positive for the virus just over a week ago with no symptoms, and has been isolating ever since.

The person was taken to hospital on Thursday afternoon after developing symptoms, the government said.

Statistics published on Thursday show there are seven active cases of coronavirus, external in the island.

The ban is in place from 21:00-05:00 daily and follows rubbish and broken glass being left as well as vandalism to the World War Two bunkers and residents in the area reporting being disturbed.

States of Jersey Police said the emergency services also had difficulties accessing some of areas used for parties and gathering if an incident were to happen.

Anyone found within the common during these hours could be liable to a fine of up to £1000.

A police statement said: "We don’t want to stop people having fun, but we have to address these issues because we want to keep everyone safe."

The Government of Jersey has announced the discovery of a new case of coronavirus in someone travelling to the island.

A second new case was also identified in someone who was tested after being contact traced.

The government says one person who had the virus has recovered leaving seven active cases in the island, which has seen a total of 331 cases.

BBC Channel Islands News

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The States Assembly has agreed to investigate the feasibility of a digital landlord register to be held by the government of Jersey.

The database could hold the details of both landlords and their tenants in rented properties across the island.

States members opposing the proposal raised issues concerning data protection.

Housing Minister Sam Mezec said the register would offer "absolutely nothing when it comes to supporting islanders in accessing decent homes".

Deputy Rowland Huelin, who put forward the proposition, refused the suggestion that it would create a "Big Brother" state.

The Council of Ministers will have to report their findings back to the States Assembly by 1 September, including details of how current housing laws could be amended to accommodate the register.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Condor Ferries will resume its sailings between Jersey and St Malo.

The company tried to restart the service on 3 July, but has been stalled twice due to industrial action by dock workers at the French port.

The route had been suspended since March due to the coronavirus crisis.

A spokesman for Condor said disputes at St Malo had been resolved during talks held this week, allowing the first sailing to go ahead on Friday.

Elwyn Dop, Condor’s operations director, said: "It has been, and still is, a really challenging time for us without any French services since March, so we are delighted we can commence our first high speed sailing to St Malo to coincide with the start of the school summer holidays."

The service will operate with a reduced capacity, and travellers will be required to wear face masks.

A weekly freight service between Portsmouth, the Channel Islands and St Malo will not resume this weekend while discussions continue, Condor said.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The States Assembly has voted against a change that would have made GP appointments free for all children in Jersey until 2021.

Deputy Carina Alves had proposed the interim measures while a more affordable primary care scheme is devised by the health minister for the start of next year.

Deputy Alves told the States "good health should not be determined by income".

A reduced fee of £10 for children's consultations was introduced during the coronavirus crisis, but is due to end on 9 August.

It coincides with the return of GPs to private practice, after the States agreed to directly employ them during a four-month period.

A proposal to axe a £120 fee for a women's 'pregnancy package' was also rejected by the States.

In February, it was voted that the health minister must devise a plan, external which reduces "financial barriers for patients who are financially, clinically or socially vulnerable" by 1 January 2021.

Deputy Richard Renouf said he expected to lodge his proposition in September.

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

Police are appealing for information after a female dog walker was headbutted by a man, who was also walking a dog, in People’s Park on Wednesday between 18:15 and 18:25.

An argument broke out between the pair over the ownership of a dog’s ball.

States of Jersey Police said: "The man reacted violently to this argument and headbutted the woman before leaving the area."

The man is described as white with a broad build, short dark hair and in his 50s.

He was wearing a white long sleeved shirt, jeans and boots.

Anyone who may have seen the incident or has information is asked to contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The number of active cases of coronavirus in Jersey has fallen to six.

The reduction reflects one person who has recovered from the virus, and a second person who gave a false positive for the virus at the island's ports, the Government of Jersey said.

Two asymptomatic people with the virus have now developed symptoms, it was announced on Tuesday.

Four of the six were identified through workforce screening, another through hospital admissions, and a final person through testing at the borders.

There have been 329 confirmed cases in Jersey, and 31 Covid-related deaths.

BBC Radio Jersey

Businesses in Jersey could soon be allowed to encourage their workers to come back to the office, as ministers prepare to move into the final stage of exiting the Covid-19 lockdown.

Ministers are due to meet medical experts next week to look at whether it is safe to move to level one of the Safe Exit Framework.

Until now, companies had been asked to have as many staff as possible working from home.

But, if ministers decide to relax restrictions, that could no longer be a requirement.

However, people would still be expected to stick to safe distance guidelines.

The States could also allow bigger gatherings of people, subject to extra rules for organisers.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders will be given priority in some roads across the island's parishes, the States has agreed.

Cars and other road traffic will only be allowed on the designated roads for "essential travel".

Constables from each parish will be given the opportunity to decide which roads the new rules will apply to.

The changes are expected to be implemented by the first quarter of 2021.

Road signs will be updated to reflect pedestrians' priority, and the government will be expected to communicate the new rules with the public.

Deputy Rob Ward, who put forward the proposal, said the changes were likely to affect "a small proportion" of Jersey's Green Lanes.

The law passed in the States by 25 to 21 votes.

Andrew Segal
BBC News Online

The constable of St Lawrence has opposed the inclusion of Millbrook Playing Field and farmland north of the Inner Road in St Lawrence as a site for the island's proposed new hospital.

Deidre Mezbourian said it was "unbelievable" the site was among the five being considered for the project and to "lose that green lung would impact detrimentally upon every islander now, and in the future".

She said the playing fields and fields beyond "must continue to have the highest level of protection against development".

Meanwhile, the constable of St Helier wants the States to ask ministers to remove St Andrew's Park from the shortlist of sites for a new hospital in Jersey.

Simon Crowcroft said he was unhappy that the site at First Tower has appeared on the list.

He had already criticised the People's Park being included, asking: "Is nothing sacred in this island?"

The constable said St Andrew's was not a suitable place for a hospital, and the plan would deprive local people of important green space.

His proposal is to be debated by the States.

BBC Radio Jersey

A Jersey deputy wants the States to scrap plans to make landlords hold a licence, and instead have a register of landlords and tenants.

Deputy Rowland Huelin said such a register would help the States know exactly how many people needed housing and what kind of homes they wanted.

The deputy, a landlord himself, said a licencing scheme would lead to higher rents and owners taking their properties off the market.

He also said he believed a register would help everyone, not just landlords.

He said: "You can protect each from each other, and ensure that the good behaviour goes on and there's respect between both parties.

"That can be done if you know exactly where everybody is, and also you can see the serial offenders on both sides."