The development on the coastline at St Martin which has been criticised by National Trust for Jersey president Mike Stentiford
AN environmentalist has said that the size of an approved property in St Martin is ‘immense’ and will have a negative visual impact on the coastline.
National Trust for Jersey president Mike Stentiford has said that La Coupe House, on the headland above Le Saie slipway, is huge for its location and he has questioned whether Planning is strict enough when it comes to allowing developments on the coastline.
His comments come days after the National Trust for Jersey launched a major campaign, urging the public to support the protection of Jersey’s threatened coastline.
The event, called ‘A Line in the Sand’, is planned for 4 October when the organisation is hoping thousands of Islanders will form a line across St Ouen’s beach.
Article posted on 2nd July, 2009 - 2.58pm
14 Article Comments
RE THE HUGE DEVELOPMENT AT LE SAIE, I HAVE BEEN TO THE SITE AND AGREE ENTIRELY WITH THE VIEWS OF NATIONAL TRUST AND I GUESS IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ARE IN JERSEY. COMPARE THAT WITH THE RECENT REFUSAL BY PLANNING RE THE ALLOTMENT DEVELOPMENT IN ST. LAWRENCE.
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There is an immense incinator currently being constructed on the coastline of Havre-des-Pas. Why did Jersey National Trust feel that was acceptable?
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I think we all appreciate your comments Mike, but as you know it’s a case of who you know not what you know !!!
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I’ve been down there and seen, I can say one thing. There going to have a great view!
On a serious note, I feel this is just looking for an example for the sake of it.
There are plenty of awful buildings destroying our coast line, I for one do not class this as such. Its very easy to take a picture of building site and say it looks nasty.
Personally I find many of the things and people of the National trust to be ridiculous, hyped up and opinionated, but apart from this post I don’t go running to the JEP/BBC Jersey to object against them on behalf of everyday man, who just wants to get on in life drinking to much spending his cash on gas guzzlers and wasting electricity.
Please do not get me wrong, I love our coast and this island. But I think there are bigger fish (Dandara, Harcourt) to fry than one guy building his dream home.
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I walk in this area regularly and have watched this buildings progress. At one stage I thought it was a hotel it is so vast! So completely out of character with the surroundings.
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I remember the small cottage on the site previous to this massive build. Why wasn’t the owner told to keep to a similar footprint as before especially on such a pretty part of the coast?
I also notice that part of the field next door is to be taken up as part of the driveway to this new building if planning give their approval.
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Let’s face it ,what has happened since the ministerial experiment is that checks and balances have gone out the window,it is apparent that the rich in government favour the influential and wealthy, some poor bloke wants a small conservatory on his bungalow and gets a knock back ,then things like thisspring up,Le petit fort,the God awful plans drawn up for Bouley Bay,El Tico,the disgusting plans set for the Watersplash…theyre endless,not at all in keeping with the flavour and feel of real jersey,and Planning getting it wrong again and again,Cohen and his cronies insisting some sites have his preferred artist to put up a piece of their junk as a condition of permission being granted…! have you seen the scary and somewhat obscene thing on the new Le Providence estate in St .Peters valley, unbeleivably innapropriate,he pleads on the one hand that he has too much power,then waves that same power around like a drunk with a light sabre.Ethics ,respect for the environment,and an understanding of Jersey History are the requirements ,these elements are plainly not understood or appreciated by these bought in so called experts…enough already,stop cease and desist for goodness sake take the common welfare into account,the very thing that people have found picturesque.quaint and tasteful about the island are being eroded by the creep factor….
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Unfortunately this is what happens when you have people in Planning who DO have too much power, too large a departmental budget and limited knowledge, experience and expertise in their field to keep buildings within reasonable constraints. Post 7 gives an interesting comment on the small homeowner who is refused a minor extension yet someone with wealth can build pretty much what they want after Cohen and Co gaze starry eyed at plans presented by a well known architect for a totally inappropriate development.
Without a doubt, those in influential positions should be made to publicly declare any outside interest they may have in matters relating to their well paid public servant jobs.
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The real problem is that planning employ apparent professionels that are then over ridden by the rank amateurs we have, through lack of choice vted in, we just one or two half decent politicians, not the rubbish we have now.
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What a big shame nothing was done about the big eye sore that is at la collette south coast, Why didn’t the National Trust support and help stop the incinerater getting past? in fact the south coast will be seen more of an eye sore once that huge obect will be ssen and stand out like a sore thumb, once that will be built it will certentley win the award for the worst building in the world and show how bad Jersey is It will bring people to Jersey alright for the wrong reasons
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perhaps the reason that Grand Designs on Channel4 are doing a “from start to finish” programme on this house maybe why it got a “yes”….
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Mike you are fighting a losing battle I’m so sorry to say. Same old story its who you know, how much money you have, and if you are in the social network.
How will we ever rid ourselves of those poiticians? We think we are safe at election time yet each time the public are hoodwinked.
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I don’t know who this house at the top of the hill down to La Coupe belongs too but whoever they are they should be ashamed of themselves!I drove down to the carpark at La Coupe which I have known since I was a child and looked back up the hill to be confronted by this monstrosity glowering down.Even in it’s present unfinished state it is dominant and overbearing and has nothing to do with it’s beautiful wild surroundings!All this is being built for is a sea view at any cost, the rest is a selfish piece of self agrandisement and the perpetrator should be put in stocks in the Royal Square!Let’s hope the current reversal in the housing and investment markets sinks this appalling travesty before it can be completed (Some hope).As for the picturesque lane down to la Coupe which is walled on one side for about 200 metres with rotting 8×6 wood sheets, whatever were planning thinking of when they allowed this? I suppose it’s too late to borrow the bulldozer the other developer causing problems used to knock down Janvrin’s Farm? I now know what Prince Charles felt when he referred to a proposed development as “A monstrous carbunkle on the face of an old friend!” I thought planning were all powerful? surely they have powers to intervene here and at least get this scheme to fit in with it’s surroundings in both size and finish?If they encounter stubborn refusal to cooperate send in the bulldozers!It worked at Janvrin’s Farm after all!
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Its who you know and were you live that seems to count in Jersey. You see nobody that important lives close enough to la collette were the immense incinarator is being constucted no states members or national trust will suffer as its out of there way so Why should they worry? they just don’t care
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