Noisy Party

I see the States of Jersey Police have asked that people have consideration for their neighbours when having parties.

That is a good point - it can be very annoying if you have neighbours who play loud music and have scant regard for anyone living nearby. Just look at this story about a Noisy Party. To quote from Stuart Syvret - "You couldn't make it up".

Aside from officials of course, one of the worst neighbours is, of course, (sorry for repeated use of the expression) the States of Jersey.

If you live near Howard Davis Park this weekend you are to be treated to a whole day of "Rock in the Park" on Sunday 3 August - you know the day of rest and peace. However this is not the standard of Rock in the Park in say Hyde Park or any open aired Stadium Rock. This is durge music played by near talentless bands which has to be endured by the residents and neighbours of Howard Davis Park from noon til nine (or thereabouts). These are bands that have as much chance of playing an open air concert in real life as I do of being elected next President of the USA. Unfortunately they are also given the benefit of amplifier which makes things worse.

Then consider this; the old raves at Fort Regent and Elizabeth Castle from 10 til 4 in the morning; the constant bass that could be heard in St. Clement, St. Saviour, St. Lawrence, no doubt Noirmont and certainly at Les Platons.

After Rock in the Park we have the Jersey Film Festival. Great, arranged by a States Deputy (he may not have involvement now), if you live close enough you can hear the soundtrack through a summer evening notwithstanding you might want to have a quiet evening at home.

Finally we will be getting the world class Jersey Live! - you know - like Glastonbury - except the BBC won't televise it. Pity the poor folks who live near or next door to that. But sod them! They only pay rates and taxes (in the case of some people in that area I imagine pretty big rates bills and tax bills).

And this is all done with the kind permission of who, oh yes the Bailiff and held on private property, oh no, its States of Jersey property.

Do the States have any respect for Sunday; oh yes, of course they do - we can't shop on a Sunday in town because it might be too offensive - but we can suffer people going to parks and getting pis*ed or to Agricultural centres and getting pis*ed and drugged up.

Perhaps someone will ask Environmental Health to monitor one of the events. Don't suppose a noise abatement notice will be served.

Farewell Airport Director

I seem to be hitting a transport theme!.

So we are saying farewell to the Airport Director. This is the man that came from Newcastle (Australia) and knew so much better than the locals, as his J category befitted. The Airport in Jersey was such that it provided an outlet for families to take kids (bored in the winter) to watch planes, get the newspapers, and watch some more planes and have a cooked breakfast. This guy took that all away by blocking off the departure halls apparently in a move that would benefit the Island because the duty free shop could be enlarged and used only by airside passengers.

The viewing public could still watch planes; from the comfort of the 1970's fashioned restaurant with a view of the roof of the arrivals baggage area and numerous air conditioning units and probably the most disgusting coffee in Jersey. Of course at the time of the refurbishment of the departure lounge we were told that the balcony adjacent to the restaurant would be opened for viewing. Has it opened? No.

That said, what a triumph it was to bring Starbucks. All the locals of course really rush to buy their coffee (now that they cannot properly say goodbye to loved ones), to sit hemmed in by the waiting travellers queueing in the cramped check in area.

Alan MacLean (Deputy St. Helier No. 2, 434 votes, Assistant Minister for Economic Development (i.e. no mandate)) (please don't vote for him if he is in your district) has also been spinning in the news in connection with the British Airways announcement to bring the A319 to replace the Boeing 737. Well Mr. Assistant Minister British Airways didn't exactly display confidence in the route. It is a similar aircraft to the 737-500 but has 22 extra seats and is more fuel efficient. They use them on other routes such as London to Edinburgh and through Europe. British Midland is using an Airbus on the Heathrow route (subsidised by Jersey taxpayers). Aer Lingus uses one on the Dublin route. British Airways used to use 737-400, Airbus and Boeing 757 on the route all with larger capacity. Don't let that get in the way of a story - who would have thought it - an Estate agent taking the public for fools. Whatever next?

Taxi (or Cab) - do you understand economics Guy

Short post.

Called a taxi last Tuesday night to get home from a friends house - 10.30 at night total price £5.80. So okay.

Now I hadn't been aware that the buffoon, that shining beacon to good government - de Faye - you know the one who ran for Senator in 2002 finishing 7th, and again in 2005 when he received only 4,994 votes finishing 12th of the fifteen candidates. So it showed nobody really wanted him. But in democractic Jersey he then stood for election for Deputy and finished 4th (last) with polled 836 votes; he then had the temerity to stand for the Council of Ministers and the other fools elected him;

I digress it appears that aside from reducing the yardage over which a taxi charges they have changed the higher tariff from 12 midnight to 11pm. Wonderful. Price for same journey the following Saturday - £8.00. So for 45 minutes later than the Tuesday (11.15 on Saturday) that is an increase of some 37.93%. Well done on inflation there Guy. For god's sake everyone vote this buffoon out of office before he can do any more damage.

A Marks & Spencer Lunchtime Sandwich

Not too sure that I will bother going back shopping here again. The staff (or a least the person I dealt with) was unpleasant in that she was completely silent and could not be bothered other than asking for my money to even offer a bag. As I had two items I at least expected to be asked if I wanted a bag. Nowadaways of course it is nearly as close to a criminal offence to ask for a plastic bag which of course you now have to pay 5 p for the privelege of using. As I am not in the habit of carrying a large bag with me wherever I go I would have expected at least the courtesy of being asked whether I want a bag.

Another issue particularly with the Jersey M & S, (I can't say I have noticed it in the UK) is the considerable rudeness of your middle aged peroxide blonde with her D & G sunglasses propped on her head, who seem to ignore any men doing their shopping and think it is acceptable to barge in front of you when you are perusing items as if you don't exist - anyone else (men) experienced this? Comments please!

Anyway, as it happens, I do have an answer for this problem. I will not shop in Marks & Spencer and then I won't encounter it again. I will have my own Sandpiper boycott. In my view if they or their staff can't be courteous to customers and seek to rip people off then they don't deserve to have any customers.

Wine Warehouse, Victor Hugo, Iceland, Marks and Spencers - just don't shop there.

It's a Beautiful Day & Classic Cars

It's been an absolutely gorgeous day today.

As I don't put photos on this Blog at present, I hope Crapaudmatic will have some of his wonderful shots to show what a lovely day its been. Almost unbroken sunshine. Green Island and the St. Clement's Coast road packed with cars and people so didn't go there. Sometimes, (even when we have our moronic politicians attempting to their best to spoil everything in search of a pound and taxing its ordinary citizens until they pop), Jersey is a wonderful place to live! Anyway I never go to the beach for sun bathing; for me and my son it is low water exploring everytime but at the moment we are unable to venture onto the beach due to injury!

Not being one for usually going to events - today we went to the Classic & Vintage Motor Show held at the RJA & HS Showground in Trinity. Surprisingly, to me, it was very interesting. These shows are quaint in their way as well.

Reminders of the 1970's and earlier. In the motorbike section is pleasing to see the BSA and also the Triumph Bonneville. No Triumph Tiger that I could see. A couple of lovely Morgans which looked immaculate; Retro 70's Ford Cortina and Capri, 80's XR2. Also an old Austin 7 in need of some restoration. Strangely enough it took around an hour for us to walk around before we stopped for a quick coffee.

The Jersey Kart Club was also there. On display were a number of karts and also plans on show for the proposed Kart track at Crabbé. Unfortunately these plans have already attracted the Nimby's and one wonders whether the track will come to fruition. However this would provide a constructive outlet for children and adults and would provide a track which could conceivably be used by other clubs and users, for example, it would be useful for a cycle club. Jersey provides precious little for its youngsters and a privately funded project such as this could well benefit the community.

Scum

The day started a little strangely and I think it says a lot for some of the youth of today and where the Island and the country is going wrong. At about 8.30 I heard an unusual amount of noise outside in the lane where I live. We are lucky enough to live next to a field but it is surrounded on most sides by residences. However the lane leads to the countryside. Anyway this group of teenagers, still with bottles in hand, guitar and food walked past. Very unusual and I overheard mention of the field; When I looked out (from the safety of an upstairs window 3 had already climbed into the field (which is private property) and the conversation was this "I need a s**t, man - I can't wait" at which point the person spotted me at the window and began calling one of his mates - the mate replied "I just going down here I need a s**t - just a small sausage" - the other guy then said to me "Do you want us to do one" (i.e. get lost) - I replied as politely as I could that I did - fortunately they did move on - but it only highlights at the moment what scum our education system seems to be breeding = and also the fact that their parents could not care either. The very fact that these people thought it was acceptable to do what they were proposing in a very public location is disgusting to say the least. These people are similar to these Drunk passengers thrown off an aircraft in Germany.

If you read this article on the Telegraph website and what is going on in the outside world it makes you stop and think what wasteful thankless scum the likes of those to whom I have referred to above really are - perhaps National Service would sort them out - but why should the army do that job for society.

Traffic

When it is not the buffoon in charge of TTS busy putting crossings at the end of the tunnel where no one walks and putting railings in to prevent emergency services passing and therefore increasing risk to the general populace and particularly when they do not police existing crossings there is always something else to upset the traffic and pedestrian balance in Jersey (and I'm not even talking roadworks here).

Take, for example, Howard Davis Park into Colomberie. For a pedestrian it is a case of running the gauntlet on a daily basis. There are no end of drivers at the school rush hour and at the end of the working day who believe that the rules of the road do not apply to them. Well lets give them some news. It doesn't matter if you are sitting in your car with your kids as you sail through the red light or think that it does not matter that you go through on red because it has just turned - you are not invisible just because you don't make eye contact or you are wearing designer sunglasses or you are in a 4 x 4 and have more money than me. Your car has a number plate.

All this problem really needs is cohesion from States departments - don't laugh - I know it is very unlikely - but speed cameras and traffic cameras at junctions would solve the problem and provide income through fines. It would also lessen the chance of a child correctly observing the highway code being killed or maimed by one of these selfish people when crossing the road when the "green man" shows.

Another traffic matter that should be addressed is the seemingly peculiar Jersey habit (and I am Jersey born before anyone complains) of stopping the flow of traffic to let people drive out of other junctions (1) without having regard to the traffic flow behind and (2) the traffic flow on the other side of the road. This is a dangerous practice which should be made illegal if it is not already.

However TTS would rather pay for overtime on a Saturday and Sunday at the green waste site at La Collette for someone to show you an empty parking space from which to empty your rubbish. The question here is - where will the green waste go when the incinerator building commences. Any one going to let us know the location?

GST

GST is a disgraceful tax in its current form foisted upon the people of Jersey against the wishes of the electorate completely without mandate. It is an invidious and pernicious tax which targets all but affects the poor and needy the most. Which regime in the world taxes the basics, food and water. Water is a natural resource and we all have to use it. The taxation of food and children clothing is also an absolute disgrace. The businesses selling them are already taxed on the profits they have made from trading and now the purchaser is taxed for purchasing.

Aside from the credit crunch, which is affecting Jersey no matter what politicians such as Ozouf state, is it any coincidence that there has been a marked downturn in local business activity since May.

Does anyone recall at the last hustings whether any of the candidates referred to GST in their manifesto.

There is a very succinct article about Senators and Deputies today on the Moving Finger. This site also details the GST 28 - so I don't need to detail them here - just go to the Moving Finger - but please make sure that you don't vote for any of the 28 if they dare stand in the next election, that way we can be sure that they will not be in our government next time around. Hopefully the electorate will speak. But, lets hope the successful candidates have the guts not to vote the current Treasury Minister as the Chief Minister.

Jersey House Prices & Jersey Home Loans

I note on Channel tv that there was an interview with a mortgage adviser concerning the supposed withdrawal from the market of Jersey Home Loans.

Having an interest in the local property market, (I am purchasing my (small) home with a very large mortgage like many others but unlike many others I am Jersey born, not a "J" cat (I will refer to this issue and the issue of expansion of immigration and population in a future post) and have never been able to benefit from first time buyer status etc), I was interested to see this interview. This guy is a mortgage broker. He is not known to me personally and I have never had any dealings with him.

The statements are fairly dramatic. Jersey however has not been immune to the sub-prime crisis and things have been slowing down over the past six months, however transactional levels have "fallen off a cliff" in the past month.

What Jersey Home Loans have in fact done is said that they are reducing the loan to value, i.e. the amount of loan that they will lend to 75% of a property price. This means any purchaser has to put in 25% of the value. Of course this is difficult for a lot of purchasers and for first time buyers. However it does not mean there will be a price crash. People won't sell.

What had previously been happening, or at least my understanding was, that there were mortgages available for 90% to 95% of the home's value. The income multiplier was 5 times salary. Added to this what mortgage brokers were doing (and not all I hasten to add) was arranging top up loans to take the borrowing to 100% or more with legal, surveying and arrangement fee costs.

Essentially, and it is only my opinion, Jersey's own potential sub prime crisis may have been created by these actions.

Unfortunately our economic development minister, Philip Ozouf, Senator, (don't vote for him at the next election) has stated that it is too soon to say what effect it will have on Jersey's housing market. As I have stated above it has already had its effect, transactions have dropped off a cliff.

In part this may be a political move by Jersey Home Loans to become a deposit taker. Jersey authorities have so far not allowed them to do so. The authorities have however been happy to allow them to lend £750m of their UK deposits to Jersey residents. Surely the authorities should relax the rules on the deposit taking. It does not mean every Jersey resident has to but their funds with Jersey Home Loans but the argument that they are not allowed to take local deposits would be removed. The converse is that whilst the Jersey authorities have been happy to allow them to lend and fuel a potentially damaging economic crisis they do not see fit to allow them to be a deposit taker to balance their Jersey book.

In this instance our politicians need to act fast and decisively - they need to either let Jersey Home Loans take deposits or they need to explain to their electorate what their concerns are and why they won't let Jersey Home Loans take deposits.

Best in the world

I seem to recall reading in JEP recently a very good letter which alluded to the fact that everything our politicians were referring to when undertaking new schemes or recycling would result in the whole world looking enviously into our Island and that Jersey would lead the world in one particular field or another.

What arrant nonsense this attitude is. The world does not look on in awe. Jersey is a small town and what a lot of people see is a money grabbing tax haven. They are not interested in an horrendous waste processing plant at the gateway to the Island. Who would look on in awe at that idea. The whole idea of the waste plant at La Collette is akin to putting a sewage farm next to St Andrews Golf course.

The world is only looking in on Jersey for one reason at present and that is Haut de la Garenne. I was a child in the 1960's and 1970's and also came ultimately from a broken home. Fortunately we never had to enter the care system. I recall particularly some of the teachers at the time and as a child from a broken home I recall being picked on almost mercilessly by a particular English teacher at Le Rocquier School throughout my time there - (I wouldn't use the word "hate" but I do not like this odious person much). In the end, I left the school through stress brought upon me by home life at that time and school at 15 without qualifications - probably a similar story to Senator Syvret - the education system at that time was not good. It was all very well for people to say you have to be strong but everyone has a breaking point. If I hadn't left at that point I do not think I would be around now.

Changes

I have decided to make some changes to the name and nature of this blog and it will be moving the site to jersey247.com.

It is too focused on the forthcoming elections and to the shortcomings of some of the local politicians.

Therefore I am going to widen the focus with an emphasis on everything Jersey, comments on local things and occasionally wider matters nationally. Also my thoughts or recommendations on local restaurants, beach cafes and pubs, and maybe also commenting on various service providers to the Island such as airlines, lawyers, shops, estate agents etc as and when the muse or occasion takes me.

I have also decided to include links to other blogs (which may be extended to useful websites in future) whether or not I agree with their postings or political views.

Sand Pit

How many bird strikes have there been at the west end of the airport runway? There was/is surely far more danger from the recycling plant at the east end of the runway.

The pond that has been created in the Sand Pit out west should be left. It should not be infilled but should be left to become a nature area.

Population - A vision for jersey from the man that dare not stand again

I see that the vision for jersey from the man that dare not stand again is an extra 540 people per year. What about their families (say x) 3. Thats 1600 per year.

I tend to walk most places but on a couple of occasions this week I have had to drive from West end of town to the East at the end of the working day. Well I walk it quicker.

The Island I was born in is becoming a fairly intolerable place to live and the only reason I stay is my child's education. Once off to University I will be off too - unfortunately.

Also I will never sell my house or flat to a "J" Category purchaser.

Just a little rant today.

Comments to Knee Jerk Reaction

Clearly there is someone who wishes to remain anonymous - but because they do not like free speech or what is said - immediately states that it is an establishment blog - what a complete load of rubbish - it is not - I couldn't be further from an establishment view point if I tried and as my posts below verify.

Knee Jerk Reaction

Of course the venerable Stuart Syvret immediately jumps to the conclusion that a News of the World report is factually accurate and rants that we should all "read it and weep".

Unfortunately despite all his protestations to the contrary I believe that Syvret is using the appalling child abuse scandal to further his own political ends.

He says he will not stand for election again in three years - we can only wait and see.

Haut de la Garenne is an appalling situation for the victims and any perpetrators hopefully will face proper justice.

Idiot

Having caused chaos on the avenue for the benefit of the 5 pedestrians who cross opposite the hamburger the village clown and his department have bowed to the whim of the pedestrian that required traffic lights to cross at the west end of the tunnel rather than walk ten yards further west and cross there.

This man is in charge of a serious amount of money.

Vote the buffoon de Faye out of office as soon as possible.

Ship of Fools

The idiots have voted to build the ugliest building in Britain right at the gateway to Jersey.

What a complete bunch of morons.

Particularly the unelected buffoon - de Faye - voted the idiot out at the next election.

Any Chance?

Is there any chance that there will be any candidates of suitable calibre in the coming elections. I doubt it.

Having seen the current incumbents leaving the States on Tuesday and going for their drinks at the Peirson or going back to their offices you can see that they make a sad and sorry bunch.

Some are clearly in it for the money, that is why they do not resign.

How can we have a Minister of TTS be in charge of overspends. What is the need for informal pedestrian crossings at the end of Victoria Avenue. All that work has ensured is that anyone writhing in agony in any form of accident or heart scare will have to wait longer whilst the emergency services come to their aid. Captain Chaos is not far short of being any idiot.

Now we will see this fool push through the incinerator at the gateway to Jersey. If they must build it why not build in Bellozanne Valley. Would you want your children swimming at the restored Havre des Pas if they build it.

If you are in his district come the next election use your vote wisely and vote de faye out.

No change

Well those odious people remain in the Council of Ministers.

But who would have replaced them - there is no one of sufficient calibre in the States to lead as Chief Minister - and certainly not the little man who taxes childrens clothes, food and even drinking water.