From David Beaugeard.
THE Watersplash plans are excellent, a well thought-out ‘resort plan’, beautifully presented, and in essence may very well be what Jersey needs.

The big, big question is, are these plans what St Ouen’s Bay deserves?

For while, unlike some, I don’t believe it to be ugly, I do believe that the size of the proposals is completely out of character with the bay and will urbanise St Ouen’s Bay at a stroke, complete with attendant increased traffic and potential light pollution from a vastly increased Watersplash footprint.

Indeed, they will plonk a ‘private resort’ that effectively extends from the green hut to the east, to the western boundary. That is dangerously close to the iconic White House.

It will deny a view of the ocean for a large part of the drive along the bay.

Minimal impact? Sorry, these plans will have a huge environmental impact on St Ouen’s Bay.

There is something beautiful about St Ouen’s Bay, a jewel in Jersey’s coastline. It certainly doesn’t need a large urbanised development right in the middle of this marvellous stretch of coastline.

When I suggest that these plans include much that Jersey needs to attract the visitor, it may be so, but not in St Ouen’s Bay, where it is totally out of character with the unique environment of the bay.

So what happens if these proposals are accepted? What is there to stop other developers with dreams of ‘surf resorts’ submitting plans?

A precedent will have been created in the name of tidying up the Watersplash. What reason will there be to refuse others waiting in the wings who have dreams of developing land on the sea side of the Five Mile Road? At a stroke what has been described in successive Island Plans as ‘a special place’ will have been destroyed for ever.

The St Ouen’s Bay planning framework clearly states that Jersey is a ‘green-globe’ destination which requires tourism activities to respect the environment.

It goes further, stating that the emphasis in St Ouen’s Bay should be on informal recreation, not commercial tourism. It also goes on to say that there is a strong presumption against building in St Ouen’s Bay, and the extension of existing tourism facilities in St Ouen’s Bay including the building of self-catering facilities that require new building and result in an unacceptable intensification of activity.

I am sorry to say that the Watersplash proposals drive a coach and horses through everything that the planning framework appears to set out to enforce.

The proposals mean very little for surfing in general. Okay, there will be a judging tower, changing facilities and a clubhouse, but at what price? A mini Newquay?

This is ‘resort surfing’, complete with skate bowl. I am afraid in my book that is no reason to destroy the special character of St Ouen’s Bay.

Of course the Watersplash is tired and in need of refurbishment, and I appreciate that David Seymour wants to develop the property into something he and his family can be proud of. As a surfing family they are great supporters of surfing, but the bigger picture is more important and if these plans are approved what will become of the St Ouen’s Bay we know?

Remember they don’t build wild spaces any more.
Les Chanolles,
Les Chanolles de Six Rues,
St Lawrence.