Election 2026: What do St Helier North residents think?
BBCAhead of Jersey's 2026 general election, the BBC is going to each voting district to speak to islanders about the issues affecting and concerning them.
The first roadshow took place in St Helier North, which is the third most populated district with 12,000 people.
Residents have told the BBC about the challenges of inflation, road works and lack of green spaces.
One fish and chip shop owner said specifically that inflation was "killing" the island.
Tom Howell, who has owned the Prime Fry, Fish and Chip Shop in St Helier North for nearly 20 years, said inflation was putting a huge strain on his business.
He said: "The cost of fish has gone up 200%, and that's just one thing. That's not even speaking about energy, gas, electricity, water.
"It's killing the island, it really is. I'm finding that people just do not have disposable income, they don't have money to go out, they don't have money to spend on small luxuries and I'm noticing it in a chip shop.
"I know businesses that are really struggling now... If this is not addressed by our politicians, it's going to destroy this island. It really will."
The most recent inflation figures showed that Jersey's retail price index (RPI), increased by 2.7% in the last year.
Howell said he thought there were some solutions that the next set of States Assembly members should explore to help people with inflation.
He said: "I mean, there are lots of different things we can look at to make people's lives easier. If there was a suspension of GST [goods and sales tax], that would help.
"From the very largest companies to the little old granny, it would help everybody."
Other residents in St Helier North said they were concerned around roadworks and traffic.
Alison Marshall and Melina Syred both live on St John's Road, which is undergoing roadworks due to last until February 2027.
Syred said: "I don't know if there is a road in St Helier that isn't under construction, but we are certainly getting our fair share in St Helier North; with St John's Road and the sewage work that's being undertaken, that is probably going to be nine months to possibly a year still."
St Helier North is also where Jersey's new acute hospital at Overdale is due to be built.
Marshall said she was concerned about the congestion that the new hospital and plans to build accessible homes on a field could cause.
Marshall said: "I think the primary issue is safety. We have 700 students also at Haute Vallee School.
"We have a very small pavement, and we have The Pet Cabin [pet shop], and we've had animals hit as they're coming out of it.
"We had someone coming by who tipped over into the road onto a mobility scooter."
Such views are shared by Syred, who said: "St John's Road has now become a cut-through road when Queens' Road is every single day very, very busy.
"People are cutting down St John's Road with the one-way system that was created down at the bottom of the Old St John's Road.
"Queen's Road is the only way up. It is going to be the only artery road from the north for people to access the Overdale hospital."
Tony Allchurch, who lives in Vallee Des Vaux, spoke about the importance of protecting green spaces.
He said: "We play pétanque down in town in a park. There is a bit of pressure now that part of it should be used for building a new school.
"Schools are very important, but the population of children is dropping, so is it worth ruining a park to build a new school?
"Those places we have should be protected and we should always seek opportunity to build more."
The list of candidates standing in the election to represent St Helier North can be found here.
The election will take place on 7 June.
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