Assessment of Hazards at La Collette, La Collette Hazard Review Steering Group Media Release - 26 March 2007

10 April 2007

Planning for the development of La Collette’s reclaimed land and arrangements for dealing with emergencies will be guided in future by the results of a strategic hazards review of the adjacent fuel farm and gas storage plant.

The review involves all the key stakeholders, including: representatives of the current fuel farm operators, Jersey Gas, the Jersey Electricity Company, Police, Fire, Planning, Harbours, Public Health, Health and Safety Inspectorate of Social Security, Property Holdings, Waterfront Enterprise Board and the emergency planning officer.

The group has appointed a specialist contractor - Atkins - to assess the implications for the La Collette reclamation area in the light of a recent UK Health and Safety Executive consultation paper following the explosion at the Buncefield Depot in December 2005. The consultation paper proposes increased planning consultation zones around fuel storage facilities

Atkins assisted the UK Health and Safety Executive in conducting their own review and are therefore uniquely qualified to conduct the risk assessment. The review is expected to take approximately two months and means that planning applications within the La Collette area will not be determined until the review is completed.

The group is chaired by John Richardson , Chief Executive of Transport and Technical Services, who said: ‘A great deal of industrial development is planned for La Collette. It is really important that we fully understand the health and safety requirements of building in the vicinity of the oil and gas discharge and storage areas. We can then address these requirements in the development of La Collette. We also need to review the current arrangements for emergency planning in the area and put in place measures that will take into account the manner in which La Collette continues to be developed. It is proposed that our findings should become formal guidance which will inform the planning process.’

‘I am delighted by the positive response to this initiative received from all those involved in the Hazard Review Group which is helping us ensure that safety remains our top priority as we develop La Collette.’