Old School Turned Medical Facility Plan Approved

Plans have been approved to transform the old Les Quennevais School into a temporary medical facility, despite concerns over traffic and resident safety.

Overdale health services will move there while the new hospital is being built.

It's due to open and operational before the end of next year.

The build is estimated to cost between £15million and £17million.

But some people questioned the location of the site and asked whether it should be given the go-ahead before planning permission for the hospital is granted.

Deputy Kirsten Morel said he was worried about the location, the additional traffic this would generate, and the safety of residents if people who don't know the area drive through it at speed.

The planning officer called it a 'highly sustainable location', but that was also questioned by Deputy Morel.

Despite those concerns, it was approved unanimously by the Planning Committee.

The Constable of St Brelade, Mike Jackson, says no concerns had been raised to him by residents in relation to the temporary medical facility, but he'll do his best to improve safety.

"The Roads Committee are always conscious of any changes that might stimulate or increase a risk to safety and we'll take any measures to mitigate against it.

One of the things we have to do is yellow-line the road from Route Orange to the school, but in exchange for that, there will be parking allocated in the evenings when the hospital is closed and there will be a permit arrangement.

We'll always do what we can, we'll have to deal with the situation as it evolves. We need to make sure there is adequate signage on the main road so those who are coming from the east who don't know the geography of the area, that they can be quite clear as to which turning they have to take and not get fouled up in the estate roads unnecessarily."

235 members of staff will work at the new facility, with 124 staff estimated to be working at once on a single day.

It will be open to patients during the day between 9am and 5pm, and closing at 6pm for staff.

You can read more details on the planned site here.

A planning application was lodged last month to build the new hospital at Overdale.

It's hoped the new hospital will be operational by the end of 2026.

The application to demolish the existing hospital buildings at Overdale was lodged in October.