An artist’s impressions of the site in its new guise as a housing development
PLANS to demolish the Living Legend visitor attraction, in St Peter, and to build 65 homes on the site have been submitted to Planning.
The Lewis family, who own the property, say that a drop in tourism has prompted them to submit the application.
They want to knock down the Living Legend – including the go-karting and mini-golf areas – and build two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes on the 5½-acre rural site.
Living Legend managing director Chris Lewis said: ‘We are continuing to operate as a visitor attraction for the foreseeable future. A decline in tourism has forced us to look at alternatives. The option for housing is a natural one.’
Article posted on 19th August, 2009 - 2.59pm
100 Article Comments
Thats all we need, more houses no one can afford. Marvelous plan.
Why not actually put some money into making the living legend interesting!
Report abuse
Here we go again, Yet another tourist attraction on the verge of turning into housing. The island doesn’t survive on houses but it can do from industries such as tourism. If something happens to the finance industry over here and i warn you now its only a matter of time. we will have nothing. Yes we have lovely beaches and walks, but you dont want to come here for two weeks and have no where to visit with things to do. Heritage have a few good sites, unfortunatly they dont cater for everyone, infact they only cater for people with an interest in history. Yes we have a skateboard park, good idea for the kids but i dont think you will get OAPs doing jumps, grinds and flips. The Fort used to be good but now it is for kids, There is nothing for everyone to get involved in old and young that one or the other wont find boring.
The Living Legend does have this appeal with crazy golf, go carts and other activities for everyone old and young to get involved in.
Ive noticed more and more how many people are so money orientated over here and greed is getting the better of them, mainly the states and private developers oh and people with lots of land, Most of it given to them years ago because of who there father was.
Its so sad to see jersey coming to this.
Everyoe knows that the States agenda is, more houses more people more taxes. As proven It does’nt work like that, more people less jobs less housing, less health care, less social support and higher taxes. We are only 46 square miles and on an island with an aging population who need a pension, to put it nicely they are not going to want to leave, thus more people less housing, higher taxes.
yes local people want to buy and new houses are a good idea but! and a big one at that! Its too expensive!!! can you see house prices ever coming down here to a good level local people can afford. Answer No
Report abuse
Agree with Sarah. This island is going to be nothing but housing and offices soon. Very dull.
Report abuse
So that’s The Maritime Museum, The Tapestry, Hamptonne and now the Living Legend that may be going – so three great days out in Jersey potentially dissappearing. How does this help tourism get better?
Report abuse
Sadly this island is going to turn into a giant dormitory filled with finance industry worker bees on short term contracts.
Quite what this will do for social cohesion, political involvement and other things normal human communities have is debatable.
Report abuse
Please hold on till after my visit in September as there does not seem to be much else to see?
Report abuse
James, I don’t understand a great dela or your logic, particularly when you jump from more peopel to less jobs. I don’t see any correlation there. Jersey though will reach a saturation in terms of th efinance industry, and as a result higher salaries. The addition of new housing, particularly on a site such as Living Legend will be a nightmare, particularly from roads and infrastructre (glad I don’t live anywhere near there!).
But most importantly, Jersey is reaching toward an oversupply of housing, relative to three years ago (houses stay on the market for much longer now), combined with some developers actually struggling to meet their costs of development, I think you might find the pot of gold may just turn into a mirage when the properties are put up for sale.
John Davis
Report abuse
I agree with #2 James. I’m a little concerned at what the future holds for Jersey. If the finance industry moves away, we’ll have lots of empty properties and no tourist industry left to bail us out. The only option the States would have, is to virtually sabotage the quallies system as a means of encouraging people back. It sounds a bit extreme, but I can see it happening
Report abuse
Oh yet more irony! The Living Legend was a tacky simplification of what Jersey used to be about,and by replacing it with 65 Living Spaces (Jersey Style) that reflects the cheapening and overbuilding of the Island ,the spin will no doubt be that this is now looking to the The Living Future.
Weep!
Report abuse
If the living legend updated it shows it would get visitors to visit it more often as if you have been their once why would you go back for the same show. It would be a shame to see it go to be houses but they bough it own their self.
Report abuse
As a regular visitor to your Island and to living legend, to demolish Living Legend will be absolute madness!! The number of visitor attractions has decreased substantially since we first came to the Island and to destroy what I consider to be the main atraction, would result in me looking to holiday elsewhere!!
Wake up Jersey!! Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and rely heavily on the finance industry, resurrect your tourist reputation and exploit your natural surroundings.
Report abuse
again another tourist attraction to close.do you want tourists to come to the island.ive been coming to jersey every year for 22years with my family.im disgusted at this .ive come to the conclusion that tourists are not wanted.we as a family have been to living legend every year since they opened.we dont just come to jersey for a few days we come over twice ayear 3weeks each time.soon there will be nothing for tourists to see.tourist sites have come and gone,butterfly farm,shirehorse farm,candlecraft,woodcraft and the lovely tropical gardens.soon to add to that hamptonne,maritime and now living legend.when is it going to stop.a much disgusted tourist
Report abuse
The States should purchase the land and return it to nature.
Report abuse
this is a total stupid idea the living legend is da number 1 tourist attraction in jersey. i go there every year since i was 11 weeks old now i am 19. i love going there and the fun that i have.
i love seeing the show and playing golf there. i went 2 da halloween theme nite at living legend in 2007. why waist so much money on the golf course and the show and then pull it down 2 build 65 houses which jersey dont need. jersey survives on the tourist industry. they are just having a few problems because of the resession that is all give them a chance.i did a year at college doing an travel and tourism course so i know wots gd 4 the place. i have seen attractions and buildings been demolished for houses. SOON THERE WILL BE NO TOURIST ATTRACTIONS FOR TOURIST 2 GO APART FROM THE BEACHES AND THE SCEANERY.
my mother has wrote on here who is called joy.
SO WHEN IS THIS GONNA STOP BECAUSE IT WILL RUIN JERSEY IF THIS CARRIES ON. SO WE HAVE 2 PUT A STOP TO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report abuse
tourists will only come if there is something for them to see.maybe the states should start to consider what will happen when finance industery comes to a halt.you need the tourist start offering them something to look for.the shows were good till you started closing venues down.not everybody wants to spend all the holiday on the beach.my children grew up learning the history of your island my family learnt alot from the holidays we have had,and still love the island even though they have grown upby visiting such places as the living legend,hamptonne,castles and museums.they also learnt about the occupation of the island.without these places your own children will lose the knowledge of thier island.
Report abuse
If they had the Sunday papers like other places do, they might get more people popping in for an afternoon tea.
Every little helps
Report abuse
How strange! someone who works in tourism states it’s in decline and yet the States are pumping money into tourism, I know the States are treating us all like mushrooms – keeping us in the dark and feeding us bullsxxt !!!
Report abuse
Add in the loss of country pubs, restuarants and other amenities and soon the outsiders’ criticism of island life will be completely true.
When you are not working you sit at home, watch the television and drink.
Report abuse
@ james e #2
“…Ive noticed more and more how many people are so money orientated over here and greed is getting the better of them,…”
If The Living Legend, or any ‘attraction’ is losing money, is it really ‘greed’ getting the better of the owner if they choose to make something less than a liability of their asset?
I’m sure that the owners of various properties and businesses in Jersey would jump at the chance to operate profitable tourist attractions, but many good ideas can’t be seen to fruition because a) some people(often those who already live a comfortable life) speak out against any kind of development of new idea, and b) the States too often listen to these complaints rather than viewing the bigger picture of what might actually be best for the island as a whole, including the working population, who need places to work.
Report abuse
I love the crazy golf & go-karts although both are overcharged (£6 for golf £8 for go-karts) that means people living here will only go once or twice a season.
However, Living Legend seem to rip-off the tourist with the cost of their items in their gift-shop before having a “half-price” sale at the end of the season
Shouldn’t the owners look at ways to increase “value for all” attractions for locals & tourists alike to increase footfall before yet another tourism destination is lost forever – more tourism – less finance!!!
Report abuse
I’ve only been coming over to Jersey for the last 5 years, but when I do come over it is for a minimum of 3 weeks. I have visited Living Legend every year I’ve been and will say that it offers something for all age groups, but with tourists tightening their belts with the recession, this will impact visitor numbers, but more housing! Wow, I would have thought that is the last thing you want. What about the states investing in areas like Living Legend, developing tourism to attract more people and charging to reflect what is on offer. Some of the housing developments I have seen over the last 3 years are awful, and give the impression to visitors of a slowly developing concrete jungle which impacts repeat visitor numbers.
What is the states thinking, because it is certainly not about the island, or islanders. I don’t know, but it seems to give the impression of money, greed first, everthing else second or third.
Don’t they realise what a beautiful island it is and how they are slowly ruining it. I am still looking forward to my 3 week holiday there next year that is already booked as I see the beauty and ignore the concrete, but I bet alot of tourist don’t.
Report abuse
There are several in Jersey that live in cloud cuckoo. No.3 would like the States to buy the Living Legend and then return it to nature. Sounds like a politician. They conveniently forget it is not the States but the hard worker who pays their taxes that coughs. I am also certain that the Lewis family have coughed some serious taxes over the years.
Report abuse
There`s few hotels, expensive flights and ferries. The heritage sites are closed.Living Legend is a housing estate. The coastline is built on.Why come to Jersey ? Oh yes, to marvel at the Waterfront flats, pay over the odds for a beer and visit the new expensive departure lounge at the airport on my way home ! Stupid me.
Report abuse
Pip I like you comments about the finance drones, work till you drop and all that…
What happens when the nectar disappears…
Anyone planned for that day yet, or is it a case of hoping for the best and maximising ones profits before the inevitable happens and lots of people get left with negative equity around their necks?
What price a first time buyer’s rabbit hutch when finance goes? £500,000 anyone? More like £100,000 if you’re lucky. Just think when, or if, they pay off their mortgage in 30-40 years time the building might need knocking down and rebuilding. Building are’t what they used to be.
Anyway 65 building plots at maybe £200,000 each should make a nice little profit for the owners. Why bother working when you can be retired with a lot of money in the bank, doing what you want instead of wasting your time serving customers who may or may not be appreciative? I think its agreed that money wins hands down every time!
How many of these 65 houses will go to finance workers I wonder? Most I woud say, as few others will be paid enough to afford them. Out of these how many will go to young island born families?
Report abuse
There,s always a boat in the morning!!!…….ai,nt we all sick of that one too!hee hee……seriously if i had the money i would be on it!
Report abuse
It’s a done deal. No amount of protesting will change this
Report abuse
This is another sad example of Jersey tourism operators seeking the easy way out. At the end of the day they are thinking only of their pockets and not the wider benefits that this type of attraction brings to the island.
It seems hypocritical to state that they are seeking otehr options due to the drop in tourist numbers, yet tourists will now have even less to attract them to our shores.
Jersey needs to understand that the modern tourist has evolved from those that liked to sit in their deck chair with an ice cream on the beach. Today’s visitor is looking for more than just pretty scenery and is looking for servcie excellence and total experience. Having no attractions left to visit is hardly going to inspire visitors to choose Jersey. With unreliable weather and relatively expensive flights Jersey is struggling to attract visitors.
I left the island 3 years ago disillusioned with the direction Jersey was taking and this is just another example of why I left.
Jersey is a stunningly beautiful island with great heritage and history, good shopping and unbeatable beaches but there seems to be little strategic direction in Jersey’s approach to tourism (much like planning and other important areas!)
No matter how stylish and traditional the proposed development might be, Jersey does not need this housing in one of the prettier rural locations.
Investing in the attraction itself, and moving it in to the 21st century is surely a better option for the well being of the Jersey Tourism industry???
Report abuse
Couldn’t they keep part of the attractions – the golf and karting that local people also go to, and have the rest as housing, but less houses. A compromise. Bet the people with housing would also use the facilities a lot, and children and their friends especially.
Report abuse
This could turn out to be a great site for housing, centrally located and close to all local amenities. If the IDC had any vision they would be considering this site as a “New Town” like Milton Keynes or Washington. The planners could create a totally self contained settlement with shops and service roads, this would cut down traffic in the area. This is an excellent opportunity c’mon the IDC. If they created a dual carriageway to the site the pressure on the roads would be halved
Report abuse
Joy #12, that is the question!
Plenty of people would like tourism to grow again, not so sure that the States do though.
I can understand the owners having to consider other options if the place is becoming a liability, no-one should expect them to put up with losing money, but it would be good to know if there has been room for consideration of any other options (whatever they may be). I don’t personally know the owners so I don’t know but I would hope this isn’t just another “I could make a fortune selling this land” idea. When one part of the tourism industry disappears the whole industry suffers a little.
Report abuse
It amazes me to see how many people want this to remain a tourist attraction and yet if more people had visited they wouldn’t have been looking at other options in the first place? More will follow and then everyone who moans there is nothing to do will finally have “nothing to do!”
Report abuse
Interesting news
I find however two sides to this story ..
1) True that Living Legend is dull,has been for donkey years,i work in the tourism industry and the amount of comments regarding the same old same old in there is unbearable by now ,the main lazer show which they have has not been updated in 17 YEARS !!!!!!Tourism wants shows like the ones that people pay less (and get soooo much more ) to see in places like Florida ,Newscastle,and the likes,this is no rocket science folks !!!!HAve you seen the kids park @ Living Legend ????What the HECK is all that about ??????????
The place is not appealing for Jersey residents either -so make it so !!!Come up with new ideas etc
2)Yes it is interesting once again that only 2 months ago (in the middle of a recession ) it was stated on the JEP news that the Jersey Tourism board was going to pump a lot of money onto the tourism industry,since then i have not seen this money going anywhere ,,,,
3)Tourism is already dead ,has been for the past 6 years ,its a lost cause,get over it ,why would i as a UK resident have to pay £70 pounds to come to Jersey when i can use another well known carrier and get to Spain for £23.99 ???????Spain were talking about …NOT Guernsey !!!!!
4)If you do travel a lot (which i do ) you can tell anyone that nowhere in the world you will see a booklet about Jersey CI,a book about tourism,a tourism agency talking about it,a holiday agency trying to sell it or even have anything onto heyre walls about Jersey-NOTHING !!!
5)Its a bad bad idea thinking about property all the time guys ,this is a small island,sooner or later the time will come were it will have to stop !!!
6)Jersey is now dying slowly but surely ,trust companies are moving on to the Cayman for obvious reasons and i would say in good views that the Finance industry in Jersey will also die sooner or later
And well this is is folks ,mae a quick buck while you can cause Jersey is on the way down to go byebye
Who to blame ??
i would love to answer that but you are all grown ups in here …i know a few very old dwarfs.. that could surely answer you that .
Cheerio
Report abuse
Seems like the only tourist attractions left will shops. How wonderful. Nothing changes really. Come to Jersey, give us your money and go home again. Actually the people who lose out most are those of us who live here and have nowhere to take the kids other than shops or the beach (but only if we leave the dog at home, make no noise and dont play games); remember that all the beach rules were to make it better for the upmarket tourists who never came anyway.
Report abuse
What a lovely idea- 65 more little boxes crammed in to a country lane with potentially a couple of hundred cars battling along those little lanes off to school and/or work every morning.I expect they won’t even have garden space as this doesn’t seem to be a requirement in Jersey.Mind you tourism is definitely on the way out so what better way to make a few bob?
Report abuse
If the Living Legend was yours, would YOU keep it open…with all the headaches and the low-cash return?
No you wouldn’t, so why should Mr Lewis!
He is no different from anyone else, he just wants an easy life and the cash to enjoy it.
Of course it’s a shame the island is about to lose yet another tourist attraction, but there are less tourists and families who visit the island want and deserve quality entertaintment…and let’s face it, the Living Legend is a bit “old hat” for the kids of today.
So the States must either fund a “newlook” Living Legend or up with the houses!
Please Mr Lewis Sir, remember me in your WILL!
John Davis 7.
…Jersey is reaching toward an oversupply of housing, relative to three years ago (houses stay on the market for much longer now), combined with some developers actually struggling to meet their costs of development, I think you might find the pot of gold may just turn into a mirage when the properties are put up for sale…
Are you joking?
Report abuse
We are leaving the Island. Hope to be able to get back if/when things are more affordable.
Report abuse
I just wonder how many people who comment on this site have actually voted in the woefully shortsighted claque of hobby politicians who run this rock!
Report abuse
Born Warrior #33.
No I am not joking. Here are the facts:
1. The average time a house from being listed to going through a sale agreed three years ago was three weeks. It is not two months.
2. There are currently three developments I could point to, have all the hallmarks of financial pressures being exerted as a result of the reduced certainty of the market, which has resulted in builds being suspended, and also not being completed.
3. House price increased have been reducing at an increasing rate, with a decrease int he average price.
If you remove the emotion/passion out of the argument, and look at the facts, the housing issue in Jersey paints a different picture to what water cooler conversations allow at present.
Report abuse
Not a bad place to live as long as there is plenty of parking for each home and no service charges.
Great for aircraft spotters!
Report abuse
I agree with 33, why would you bother, the avg house price in Jersey is £488,000 so Mr. Lewis stands to pick up a cool £31.7 Million, good for him I say. And Jersey will still be a great place so visitors that would have gone to the Legend will now go to Durrell and Heritage sites or the aMazeing Maze park which is just fab for the kids, they need the money and are much nicer anyway.
Report abuse
Great. Lets bin another tourist attraction (last nail in coffin anyone?) and build more houses that will be far too expensive for anyone to buy, and probably sit empty.
I would say “planning should refuse permission”, but of course, they won’t..
Report abuse
Its hardly suprising that visitors got bored with the last of the summer wine type attraction that just hobbled on without a revamp.
Admittedly i only visited for the first few years of the attraction opening,however it was all “dried up” more than 10 years ago.
To quote one Jersey chap who made it quite clear that he didnt want attractions or visitors he said to me. We dont want all that over yer,we want our island back to ourselves.
One thing regarding Adrians comment about houses dropping to £100,000 is there a doctor in the house???
Report abuse
I can’t see what this has to do with the politicians. It’s an attraction which clearly isn’t making money and they want to close it down. Fair enough.
I don’t think that the location is right for 65 houses, but nobody has approved anything yet.
As 30 makes clear, tourism is on the way out and there is nothing that the States could have done about it: go to a regional airport in the UK and see where you can fly and ask whether you would come to Jersey.
Report abuse
I visit the island several times a year, and have done for decades. I was amazed to read this story. Not that its closing but the idea of a high density development in such a picturesque area. One of the hidden joys of the island is to walk the green lanes, especially inland and the north coast. Only recently we found a lovely quiet walk up past the living legend. Cant imagine what that would be like with housing, traffic etc. Surely around the town there are sites for housing without spoiling more countryside.
What next, turn gronez astle into a block of flats, fill in the devils hole and build a villa?
I understand the commercial pressures on attractions such as the living legend but surely there has to be a limit on what the site can be used for.
Your island is so beautiful, the north coast and inland so tranquil, please dont spoil it for short term financial gain.
Report abuse
Tourism has nothing to do with this. We have been getting good numbers of visitors this year and as one of the only places to visit, I doubt very much that the numbers at living legend have altered dramatically.
It is a prime site for housing and planning is very likely to be granted now, when it might not have been given in the past. The owners, if they get to develop it, will make an easy 10 mil! Blaming tourism and failing business is just an attempt to gain sympathy from the public and planning.
Report abuse
I personally take my hat off to these people for trying to provide on a commercial basis what should have happened at Fort Regent, and some of the other under used States owned Island sites (In the case of the Golf and Go Karting)
I am not certain who is the motivator here, the directors of this business or their bankers? The granting of Planning permission I am sorry to say should not be on the basis of providing bankers with a soft option to standing by a business in recessionary times!
In certain respects this is a symptom of the short-termism that prevails in banking these days and for which the computer is totally responsible.
I wonder for example how successful Henry Ford would have been if his bankers had had access to a computer that was able to show them his businesses’ bottom line position on a “Daily” basis?
The fact is that by the time the various bank clerks had worked out old Henry was insolvent his business had moved on and sold a few more cars and he had the cash to make them eat their words!
How many entrepreneurs in those days survived a crisis by illegally “Cross-firing” cheques between banks for example, and relying on the time it took to clear the items to close a potential money spinning deal?
What we have now is computer fraud such as the Ponzi schemes which rely on scale to survive and consequently cause far more damage when they eventually get found out, making the bank’s even more paranoid with businesses like this one, when times are hard.
It is difficult to attract the volume visitor to the Island these days let alone to a facility in St Peter!
So what is the answer?
First the bankers should stand by this business whilst it’s directors concentrate on it’s strengths, i.e. those activities which are the money earners.They should also concentrate on developing activities which provide indoor bad weather entertainment of a type which attracts both Tourists and Islanders, particularly families. I have made suggestions in previous posts on Fort Regent Development which might help give some guidance here.These people may as well use them as they’ve been totally rubbished and ignored by the States, whose attitude has always been to rely totally on the well heeled incomer to bail them out when it comes to developing a commercial proposition, and given the track record when they have got involved I dont blame them for that.
Report abuse
If tourist attractions want to get more visitors, why not reduce the cost to visit?
If prices were reduced more people would be able to visit. Because their money would go further, more attractions could be visited in 2 weeks.
In the current financial climate surely it is better to have one vistor paying less than no visitors at all?
Report abuse
Here we go, another struggling attraction. I know, sell it off to developers, cream off the profit and leave another white elephant in the beautiful countryside…. a really good idea !!!
As for tourism, if anyone has tried to put forward ideas on how to rejuvenate the flow of tourists to the island, you will know that they really don’t want to listen. I say, do a feasibility study (no doubt handled by a UK company at the cost of thousands)and then sell off Jersey Tourism, OR how about staffing Jersey Tourism with a committee of Jersey people who have a real passion and dedication for what happens to the island.
Tumble weed rolling through unoccupied housing projects is my prediction for the next 5-10 years!
Report abuse
Julian – 25
“This is another sad example of Jersey tourism operators seeking the easy way out. At the end of the day they are thinking only of their pockets and not the wider benefits that this type of attraction brings to the island.”
I hope you didn’t leave the island to run your own business Julian!!
Get real – why would Mr Lewis look at the wider benefits if he is running his attraction at a loss or for little profit. He can’t eat nostalgia! Of course he is going to think of his pockets we all do, to varying degrees.
Report abuse
i honestly dont think anybody in the states cares if tourists come to the island or not.my family have grown up going to jersey they never wanted to go anywhere else.they loved the attractions.we still visit those that are left everytime we are over.that will be in 7 weeks time for another 3 weeks.our holidays would not be complete without trips to living legend for show and golf.trips to the museums and castles.the bunkers ect.our holiday always coincides with cider weekend which we have become involved with over a number of years.i think back to 1988 when we first came to jersey,the amount of places we visited,most are now gone.there is nothing to bring the tourist over,you have to speculate to accumulate.the states need to sort tourism out befor tourists stop coming over.my family are grown up but still enjoy our holidays in jersey.my eldest is bringing is wife next year.what is there going to be there for her to see,after we have told her the places to visit.again very disgusted to think another attraction is to close
Report abuse
No. 27 “This could turn out to be a great site for housing, centrally located and close to all local amenities. If the IDC had any vision they would be considering this site as a “New Town” like Milton Keynes or Washington. The planners could create a totally self contained settlement with shops and service roads, this would cut down traffic in the area. This is an excellent opportunity c’mon the IDC. If they created a dual carriageway to the site the pressure on the roads would be halved”
You are having a laugh, right?
Report abuse
I’m a 3rd generation Jersey man, now in my mid 40’s I left vthe Island some 9 years ago. At the moment I’m at work sitting at my desk, eating my lunch looking out of the window, watching the rain tip down outside the office here in Glasgow.
I looked out and wondered why I ever left Jersey? What with the lovely beaches and scenery, but when I look on this website and see what’s going on in the island, I suddenly remembered!
Best thing I ever did was put what little possesions I had in the back of my car and get on the boat in the morning and see where I ended up.
Report abuse
This is a Joke there will be nothing left for the Tourists if they keep closing places and building houses. I remember when I first came over to jersey. Where stands living legend now. It was a strawberry farm. Everytime i have been to Jersey I always go to living legend and the castles and the museums. Its a shame that these places have to close and if something is not done about it soon people wont visit jersey anymore because there wont be anything worth them visiting. I am planning to come over with my wife next year and she has never been to jersey. I have told her about alot of places that are interesting has I been over with the family and 2 of the family have posted on here. One is Joy my mum and the other is Tara AKA Jerseybabe my sister.
Report abuse
Do you recall places like the Inn on the Park, Casino de France, Caesar’s Palace etc? In the glory days when tourists used to vye for deck chair space on the plinth of Queen Victoria’s statue, they used to be packed.
Given the fact that Jersey cannot survive on the finance industry alone, we need to re-invent ourselves to keep the tourists pouring in – destroying the island’s heritage is not the right way forward.
At a time when it’s easy to get to the Costas or the Greek islands, Jersey needs to offer visitors more than just picturesque bays and sandy beaches.
Local media have been banging on this drum for ages but the States still don’t seem to get it.
I only hope that the finance industry manages to weather any crises that may come its way; if not, the States will have a lot of head-scratching to do when they have to cope with the nightmare of enormous budget deficits…
Report abuse
The family are well connected so the Jersey Mafia will pass it..another nail in the tourism coffin, another victory for cynicism………..AARGHHHH……!
Report abuse
What tourism?
As long as flights, accommodation and dining out are so expensive what tourists will we get? In the current climate why will people come to Jersey when they can go abroad for half the price and probably all inclusive?
Is it not possibly time that the island stopped living in the past believing this is a tourist haven?
Yes tourists will still come here, probably more for sentimental reasons than anything the attractions can offer.
Maybe it’s time to look at other ways to develop an income for the island?
Report abuse
Cathy 38
Quite agree qith you that Durrell and aMaizin Maze will probably pick up LL’s tourists, but bit confused with first bit of your comment.
How are LL going to make £31.7M?
Big assumption that they didn’t borrow initially to build the place, and won’t they have to pay for the houses or are the woodland elves going to build them?
Report abuse
In the event that the Living Legend site is redeveloped into housing, or anything else, I hope that the extensive historic remains from the German occupation that are in the area, and possibly on the Living Legend land, are retained. These bunkers and tunnels need to be preserved as part of the island’s heritage.
Report abuse
This is a real shame! Will be missed!
Report abuse
#8 Beaumont makes a good point. The States have made a rod for their own back with the finance industry. If it starts to decline, they will be left with no option, but to slash the period of quallies to perhaps 5 years.
Report abuse
34. Oh Dear
I’m leaving the Island also. Greed, pure greed. I am going to live in a house that an old schoolfriend has kindly loaned me for the time being whilst he’s away working until I find my own place. When I told this story to a Jersey man the other week he said, and I quote “Get yourself a cheap bedsit and rent the three rooms out in the house, make yourself some money!!!” Typical, greed!
Report abuse
I’ve never tried the carting, I don’t fancy a lecture, a sweaty helmet and slow carts.
The crazy golf is an activity that’s enough once or twice in a lifetime.
The show isn’t exactly a must-see tell all your friends about it spectacular, is it?
So it’s a glorified cafe. Big deal, it’s not the end of Jersey if it goes – not like the Zoo would be.
Report abuse
If the finance industry even moves to a state of relative decline the States could introduce zero quallies and there would still be people leaving the island.
One of the brutal facts of island life. You can’t commute so a declining jobs situation equals a falling, aging population.
Report abuse
Richard(54)
rembember those places well in the glory days,everywhere packed.
music churning out of every pub in the parade,where tourists had a good old sing-song every lunchtime.shows all over the island every night.
nowadays all you see is the few tourists that do come wandering around town looking for something to do
Sadly the glory days are gone along with the tourists.
Report abuse
#62 Carl. You’re right, Living Legend isn’t a huge loss in itself, but it’s one less activity for family holiday makers. As mentioned by other posters, if the finance industry moves away, we are left with nothing. With an ageing population and less big hitters here to finance the States pension fund, the quallies system would need to be re-addressed. All of this leaves us with an uncertain future
Report abuse
65 homes in 5 1/2 acres sounds absolutely horrible. – far too many houses
Report abuse
I have visited the island with my family for the past 5 years now and there are lots of tourist attractions I havent seen yet. We have been to Living Legend several times and its no wonder there’s a drop in tourism, the quality of the place has dropped considerably.
I truly hope they don’t close these places as it would be such a shame for this amazing,beautiful island and future tourists.
Report abuse
John Davis 38.
Points 1., 2. and 3 are common knowledge with regard to smaller properties, in fact I made virtually the same points in another thread last week.
What I was referring to was the last part of your comment:
…I think you might find the pot of gold may just turn into a mirage when the properties are put up for sale…
Mr Lewis, if he’s got any sense (and I’m sure he has) is going to build a lovely village-style estate with lots of big four-bedroomed houses…£800,000 and over – a price range that seems to be immune to the present crisis…so even if he’s left with a few two-bedroomed hamster cages (cleverly tucked away behind well-trimmed hedges), his pot of gold is guaranteed.
And the only mirage he’s going to see is through the window of his luxury-suite in Dubai’s 7 star hotel…
Report abuse
At 2.3 km to the nearest shop, and 1.4 km to nearest pub, I would suggest that it is not the place to develop a new village of 65 homes.
Report abuse
truthseeker 55.
It’s hard to believe that this particular Mr Lewis is in cahoots with the “crafty gang”…
If I’m not mistaken, he’s the one who was left high and dry with a load of buses to dust when the States called in Connex…
Report abuse
Beaumont 8
If the States members ever decide to do away with the quallies system, it will be for one reason only…”to keep house-prices high”…and we all know to whose benefit that will be!
Report abuse
Reading the comments, I think its only fair that as the Living Legend was agriculture before (Strawberry Farm), and planning was originally granted for a large scale tourist attraction on the basis of helping the tourism economy, should they not want to continue, it should revert back to agriculture again.
It seems to me all new “Tourist Initiatives” are just back door ways for developers / business men to access the housing market.
Why would Liberty Apartments be designed to they can be easily split up and sold off as seperate flats?
Then the States can offer the Lewis family a fair price to buy the attraction, valued on the fact it is What it is…no development potential. Remeber it was the states allowing them to build the Living Ledgend on low value agricuultural land in the first place which has allowed them to generate an income for the past 17 + years.
Report abuse
Truthseeker, have you had your medication today?. A very clear case of ‘conspiracy theory’ yet again. Guess what – I even heard the housing are for green martians, all of whom will protect a living Elvis Prelsey!
Report abuse
The site was originally the Strawberry farm so I would assume the LL got a change of use from agriculture to tourism. Logically therefore it should be cleared revert to agriculture. It is a concern that all parties seem to accept that the States will allow such a large site in the middle of the green zone to have a change of use to housing as being a foregone conclusion..
Report abuse
They should just abandon the whole qualies system. Go for a completely open market. You don’t have to have ‘Surrey qualies’ if you move here from Hampshire. Its a joke.
Then they might have buyers for these places.
And as far as tourism is concerned, Devon and Cornwall are cheaper and easier to get to.
Report abuse
How many houses could be fitted into the ‘Zoo’s’ site?! That’s another place which is going to kill itself with it’s charges. Maybe a discount for locals on production of say a driving licence or similar would encourage us locals to visit.
Report abuse
But are you all going to object with sensible arguments to planning, or are you all going to just whinge about it like normal????
Report abuse
Ben 75
Maybe you are unaware of just how hard it is for ordinary islanders to buy a house in Jersey (whether Jersey born or immigrants who have “served their time” to get quallies).
House prices are unrealistic (and I’m not referring to luxury properties but to reduced-sized 2-3 bedroom flats/houses) due to the fact that locals have been pushed to pay outrageous prices in order to work and stay near family and friends.
Jersey is not Hampshire or Surrey, it is a 9×5 island choked by greed.
So if the quallies system disappears altogether, house prices will soar and the local population (especially the lower-income groups) will be in the hands of landlords forever…or will have to move away!
Report abuse
Number 73, possibly because Surrey’s a lot bigger!
You can only fit so many before newcomers are having to live IN the sea! And you must maintain some agricultural land, at least enough to support the island should in the future should it end up being cut off from incoming supplies. You can’t just build everywhere and hope for the best in the future. I would say that A quallies system is now needed in many small islands although not quite the system that Jersey has.
Report abuse
Believe it or not humans need houses and this would be a very pleasant place to live.. The Living Legend was a great attraction in its day but now visitors want something different and it is no longer viable. I expect the owners would wish it to continue as a profitable business but are left with no other alternative than to deveolp the site – very best of luck to them and to the people who will eventually call it home.
Report abuse
Oh and by the way, how many of you who have left comments about this have actually visted the Living Legend recently?
Report abuse
Just a further comment, the Strawberry Farm Cafe used to be sited in one of the three German Command Bunkers for their final stand that never was, that were built to resemble houses, with concrete fake chimneys and false windows with window boxes etc?
These were part of the War Tunnel fortifications and I would have thought more would have been made of these from a tourist point of view?
I don’t know whether the Strawberry Farm one has even survived as a structure but there were two others in that area, one of which is to the south of the Living Legend and used to be just visible from the road. If it is still there it is probably overgrown, but done up it is yet another thing of interest for tourists to visit and would be comparitively cheap to do?
Report abuse
73. Wait and see,I hope I am wrong and have no investment in being right…..however your rudeness needs attention.
Report abuse
Agreed no 72. It appears that it is already a ‘done deal’ that the site will be converted to housing. If mr Lewis did not have the option of making a quick £20M from of people buying the houses, perhaps he would reconsider closing the attraction
Report abuse
Great location! close to the airport the genius of its location is the rural location and being equidistant between the airport and town. The IDC should go for a high density development but self contained with shops banks and amenities etc. Like many other people who have been drafted into Jersey to work in finance it should be a prerequisite that the units be allocated to workers from the UK so that we can be allowed to sidestep the qualification system.
Report abuse
36.. OhDear
Posted August 20, 2009 at 8:17 am
We are leaving the Island. Hope to be able to get back if/when things are more affordable….
im leaving too but i will NEVER come back
Report abuse
The sooner these units are built the better, I have been trying to secure a foothold here in Jersey for years yet the housing rules seem to conspire against me. I simply want a 3 bedroom house for me and my familly, perhaps a granny flat for mum, and dad, nothing too extravagent, I’m not local but I feel that 10 years of SS contributions should allow me a holiday home at least. I’m not likely to contribute that much to the local economy anyway. I simply want an animal farm with rural charm!!!!
Report abuse
Great post Quentin, its time the england were allowed to stay here for good. Been here 3 months and want top buy a pad for me and the “missus” what’s the problem
Report abuse
Absolutely outrageous, we need more tourist attractions and cheaper ways of getting to the island. We still need the housing rules as we don’t just want anyone moving here, the Jersey people and its character are what make this island!
Report abuse
Wherever you outsiders come from ,understand this,the locals don’t want everyone and his dog here cluttering up the place and spoiling the quality of life with overcrowding.Look at Honolulu..trashed..the very things that attracted people there all destroyed by…overcrowding..before you cry nimbyism..consider this in whatever your acomodation happens to be mansion or bedsit.This week invite one person to come and live with you, share parking,bathroom watch your telly ,share your grub.etc.then next week with your liberal attitude invite another,next week another,notice how hard it is to get to the bathroom now and how akward use of the kitchen is getting.so next week invite two more and them four and then eight….are you getting it yet the whole damn world can NOT live here,and the locals have known it and are sick of it…it has to STOP.the politicians and civil service olympic standard spenders have to wind their ambitions in and cut according to our cloth…..NOW
Report abuse
And how much are these houses going to cost the earth as usual and they will be tiny. IJersey is loosing all it interesting attractions… and is becoming very boring!!!!!
Report abuse
What an absolute shame it will be if this goes ahead.Living Ledgend is a real favourite attraction of ours,a perfect place to take visiting family of all ages or to just meet up with friends.
There was marvelous live entertainment too with the likes of Les Haricots Vert(Chas and Dianne) as well as the Punch and Judy for the kiddies. I do hope the Lewis family reconsiders their position but I somehow think this will go the way of other well known tourist attractions of the past but I hope Im proved wrong.
Report abuse
An excellent idea – the tourists can come and visit and marvel at the poor quality rabit hutches springing up instead.
They can then smile at the locals paying through the nose for them and their generation mortages needed. Perfect.
Report abuse
Bring back the fantastic tropical gardens !!! A favourite destination in my childhood. Living legend just doesnt have enough for a full fun packed day out for the ENTIRE family. Why not put a bit of cash into it and improve it to attract more people rather than destroy yet another attraction (albeit needing improvments). Think about the locals as well as tourists. If tourism is down try appealing to LOCAL families. We cannot afford the over-priced entrance fees, otherwise I would be up there with my kids several times a year instead of not at all !! Surely 10 visits at £3.00 each is better than zero visits at £6.00 !!!
Report abuse
Mr Lewis has invested over £11 million into the living legend but to no avail. Can you tell me that you visit the living legend on a regular basis?? Tourism has died in jersey due to the number of hotels closing and the high cost oF travel to the island. Undoubtedly tourist attractions are now the ones to suffer. It is too late to save the tourist industry. Jersey is a beautiful Island and has already been ruined.
Report abuse
I personally think the super imposed images of ‘living legends’ in the show such as Samantha Janus and Trigger from Only Fools and Horses make the whole experience marvellous…No 3 bed semi will replace that for sheer entertainment. Up there with Disney…
Has anyone mentioned a J Cat yet? That normally gets a good bit of discussion on these blogs regardless of the topic…
Report abuse
Whilst all this is very much to be debated, is everyone keeping an eye on what else is being slipped through Planning on the quiet during the summer vacation period whilst people’s backs are turned.
One such scheme being the immanent approval to demolish Windward House at St Brelade and the “Development” of it’s significant garden, which for the uninitiated comprises that part of the Island headland between St Brelade’s Bay and Ouisne Bay that is largely wooded when viewed from those Bays!
If the demolition of this perfectly sound and architecturally significant house, which was apparently custom built for a local patron of Art and significant Water Colour artist Le Maistre, is allowed to go ahead it will ultimately lead to total development of this last wooded hillside overlooking these bays within 30 years.
The history of other such similar sites elsewhere in the Island show that despite the current proposals being put forward claiming to be mere redevelopment of current buildings, that route has ultimately led to total subsequent development of the entire coastal hillside as the years have progressed!
Arguably Windward House itself should be listed as a building of significance as it was apparently specially designed to display the Water-colour Paintings of it’s original owner a significant amateur artist and patron of other significant artists and architects of his day (Lander, Ouless,Lutyens,Millais etc.)
Tracy Ingle, Principle Historic Environment Officer at the Planning Department is aware now of this connection but the House remains unlisted as apparently an application to have it so protected has to be made by an informed member of the public if I understand the advice proffered by Planning correctly?
Ms Ingle is now aware of the association with the artist Le Maistre, but is short on information about him?
I have discovered and informed her that the principal Water Colour Gallery at the Jersey Museum appears to be called The Barreau Le Maistre Gallery after two significant local Art patrons?
Anyone with any knowledge on this should advise Ms Ingle at the Planning Dept.and the officer handling this application by Mr Tom Scott, a Mr Coates.
I bring this up here because mysteriously all postings re this subject (Charlie Hungerford’s House to be demolished”etc.) seem to have disappeared? and apart from a radio announcement about plans re this application being on view at Planning,there have been no further JEP articles on this subject?
Report abuse
ref 92 Nannie P ,Sorry but If you consider Les Haricots Verts to be “marvelous live entertainment” then perhaps it really is time for the Legend to fade away but on a slighty more serious note it would appear that Le Sueur and Ozouf have no interest in supporting anything that is not ” Finance ” related , if we really had thinking politicians they would be finding ways to support and encourage tourism in tamden with the “other” industries in Jersey
Report abuse
How absurd! Jersey needs to wake up and smell the coffee! we are all aware how much income the finance industry has brought to the island and we have a great education and health system as a result of that. However…. dont put all eggs in one basket- DIVERSIFY- the finance industry will not last for ever.
As an aside recently met friends from Dubai who have lived there for 20 plus years they said that the reason for the increase in hotels etc over there is to encourage tourism to Dubai as the powers that be know that Dubai cannot rely on its oil revenues.
OK so Jersey doesnt have the same weather as Dubai but it could be marketable for weeknd breaks in the shoulder season and family holidays during summer months so investment needs to be made for the long term benefit.
Report abuse
Spot on Frenchie.
Report abuse