TOWN CRIER THE OFFICIAL PARISH OF ST HELIER MAGAZINE January 2021 In partnership with the WELCOME Welcome to the first issue of the Town Crier of the New Year. We hope that all of our readers had anTO enjoyable Christmas in spiteWN of the CRIER difficulties created by the pandemic. As we move into the coldest months of the year, our ParishTHE teams are working OFFICIAL hard to keep our PARISH OF ST HELIER MAGAZINE support services and municipal operations going well. Please remember that your Parish is there to provide help and support and that there are lots of staff and volunteers who will be working throughout the weeks ahead to assist you wherever possible. The continued necessity for restrictions in how we go about our lives will make the month of January challenging for us all, especially with the need for physical distancing and the ongoing closure of most retail and hospitality outlets, which has meant St Helier cannot be the hive of activity and socialising that it usually is. But we are all relieved and grateful that a vaccine is being dispensed so that we can all look forward to a healthierTO and happier year ahead.WN CRIER THE OFFICIAL PARISHThe Parish’s First WorldOF War memorial ST in Parade HELIER Gardens: a place for reflection MAGAZINE and contemplation UPDATE FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICES TEAM: A NEW DAWN, A NEW YEAR… Happy New Year to all of our customers from the St Helier Despite previous requests, the Team is still receiving carries a maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine so please Customer Services Team! We’re sure there will be more many forms partially or incorrectly completed, so we take return your form immediately if you haven’t already done than a few readers out there looking forward to this New this opportunity again to remind owners that full names, so. If you need help with completion of the form, please Year and not too sorry to see the back of 2020. titles and contact details of your tenants are required; contact the Team who will be happy to guide you through initials are not acceptable and may result in owners being the process. Last year was certainly not without its challenges and the charged the occupiers’ rates so please provide us with all Team rose admirably to them. From the limitations that In addition to taking advantage of available online facilities, necessary information in order that we can then compile working from home can often present, to the introduction all Customer Service enquires should be submitted via the Draft Rate List in accordance with the law. of various new services such as Home Delivery Permits email to [email protected] or by telephone on 811733, and Carer’s Permits, the latter of which proving so You can also take advantage of our digital services by wherever possible. Due to the continuing coronavirus successful that the Team continues to administer them completing your Annual Return online. Visit services. pandemic, the Team is now operating with skeleton now, it was aTO period like no other. Remarkably,WN turnaround parish.gov.je/Rates but remember CRIER to have the 9 digit code staff in the Town Hall and therefore your patience and times for general administrative processes remained that appears just above the bar code in section A of your understanding are very much appreciated. largely unaffected during the lockdown period. Annual Return to hand. THE OFFICIAL PARISH OF ST HELIER MAGAZINECustomer Service Direct Line - 811733 As we welcome the New Year with greater hope and Please note that all forms were required by 15 January Rates Annual Return enquiries – [email protected] expectation than ever, some things haven’t changed, and 2021. The law will be enforced, and non-compliance General enquiries - [email protected] it’s time to ensure our canine companions are legal once more. All dog owners are required to register their dogs no later than 31st January at a cost of £10. Late registration brings a penalty of a further £10 so please register your dog today. Regrettably, this is not yet a service you can complete online, but the process is very simple. For renewals, you don’t even need to complete a form - just give the Team a call, we’ll take your payment over the telephone and renew your registration straight away. If you’re registering your dog for the first time then you will need to complete the form with all details as a one-off; please download it viahttps:// bit.ly/3s1EsVM, or call the Team and we’ll post one out to you. Forms should be posted or dropped into the Town Hall’s letter box; a member of the Team will contact you for payment if you’re not enclosing a cheque. Unfortunately, we must finish this month’s dog business by reminding all owners that it is your duty to clean up after your dog. This applies to all beaches and parks and to all public areas, including roads and pavements. Failure to do so carries a maximum penalty of £1,000. All landowners in the Parish were sent their Rates Annual Return last month; if you haven’t received one and were expecting to please contact the Team without delay. TOWN HALL: PO Box 50, St Helier, Jersey, JE4 8PA Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday Phone: 01534 811811 Email: [email protected] www.sthelier.je 02 | | JANUARY 2021 JANUARY 2021 | | 03 CONSTABLE’S COMMENT A BIG THANK YOU… Twelfth Night has come and gone so down have St Helier’s streets and shops, travel freely to other values of helping out, volunteering and serving the BY VICKY TREHOREL, TOWN CENTRE MANAGER come most of the Christmas trees in Island homes, places, or exchange hugs with people outside our community have not been so clearly displayed for the last pieces of the cake consumed, and the thank households depends on how the ongoing battle a long time, and I want to thank everyone who has you messages sent (or added to January’s ‘To against the pandemic goes in the year ahead, but there complied with the public health guidance and the Do List’). Most if not all of us, as we packed away is every reason to believe that things are going to get various restrictions in our freedom that have been WELCOME TO TOWN – A YEAR OF A CHANGE – A LOOK BACK AT 2020 the decorations, will have shared the wish that better. The Bailiff of Jersey, Mr Timothy Le Cocq, has necessary to tackle the spread of the virus, especially next Christmas will be better, and that the return recently recognised some of the many Islanders who those who have shielded themselves for months on 2020 will be a year no one forgets, and it has certainly The Battle of Flowers should have filled St Helier with to normality that we long for will have been made have been involved in the fight against the pandemic, end. I also want to acknowledge the difficulties the MOVERS AND SHAKERS changed what ‘normal’ looks like moving forward. But bands and flowers throughout August, and was another possible thanks to the roll-out of vaccines to guard us including the Parish of St Helier’s community support business community of St Helier has faced, and to CROSSTOWN RESTAURANT AND BAR, St Helier has still managed to achieve some pretty great event missed from last year’s calendar. Thanks to the and our loved ones against Covid-19. Whether we will team and the Honorary Police, and I want to add my pledge my support as our retail, hospitality and service things despite the challenges faced. Battle organisers, the reigning Battle Ambassadors and KING STREET St Helier’s new 2020/21 Parish Ambassadors (the only be able to gather in cosy pubs, cafés and restaurants gratitude to his, to all of the staff and volunteers who sectors seek to rise to the challenges and opportunities Liberation 75 should have been the biggest event Crosstown is Jersey’s newest restaurant situated in ambassadors crowned during the pandemic year) were next Christmas, attend packed carol services, throng have contributed to this vital work; Jersey’s traditional of a New Year. of the year and planning for it was a long time in the centre of St Helier’s cobbled streets, and boasts a able to safely hand out paper flowers in town made by the making. From special bunting to flag unveilings, speakeasy gin and jazz bar upstairs. Open Tuesday to some of the groups who would usually be building floats breakfasts to memorial services and, of course, lots Saturday for lunch and dinner, and on Mondays for lunch for the year. Battle Bee and the Battle Ambassadors of opportunity to spend time with loved ones across only. Email [email protected] to book. also gave commuters a warm welcome to St Helier on the Island at various musical and family fun events - ‘Parade Day’ morning, waving at people travelling in sadly Covid had other plans. That being said, St Helier MILLI’S SEPARATED FAMILY CENTRE along the Avenue to keep the spirit of Battle alive. hosted its first online event instead, sharing stories CHARITY SHOP, THE PARADE from Leo Harris, Bob Le Sueur and Maurice Dubras. Christmas too certainly wasn’t a normal time for anyone PARISH MATTERS Milli’s Separated Family Centre is a community A Jersey French poem was written and performed but the Christmas Tree Trail was introduced, together organisation that works with everyone affected by family by Geraint Jennings, and some ‘how to’ videos from with messages of positivity spread around empty town separation to bring about better outcomes for children.