Paul

It looks like the States are going about this in the right way now.

The future of the Esplanade Quarter will be the subject of a public inquiry.

Any developer taking up the project will have to put in a planning application and that will be held in public, with members of the islanders able to make submissions to an inspector.

But with States members set to vote on the future of the waterfront, will it even come to that?

The Planning Department are preparing themselves for a planning application - whoever it may come from.

The application will be the biggest Jersey's ever seen, which is why Planning Minister Senator Freddie Cohen has made it the subject of a public inquiry.

Planning and Economic Development's Peter Thorne said: "Certainly those who made written representations on the application will be invited to appear before the inspector and make their case.

"The precise workings of the inquiry because it is the first one haven't really been worked out yet and won't be until the application is submitted but by and large it will be a public hearing and those who've made submissions on the application will have the oppportunity of addressing the inspector."

However all of this depends on what happens this Tuesday, when States members vote on whether to rescind the Waterfront masterplan. They say recent developments have forced a rethink of the whole situation.

Deputy Roy Le Herissier said: "I think people will be much more sceptical I think they will ask many more questions and I think they will want real proof that promise that are made can humanly speaking be carried out and that's only right in my view."

With States members and the public offered a real say the future of the waterfront is by no means set in stone.

Here here!