States urged to buy Plémont
Wednesday 8th April 2009, 3:00PM BST.
THE States should buy the former Pontin’s site at Plémont for the benefit of the Island, say the National Trust, who have been campaigning to save the headland for the last ten years.
They are urging the Treasury department to start talking with the site’s owner, Trevor Hemmings, to discuss buying the land at a reasonable price before it is developed.
Over 10,300 people signed a National Trust for Jersey petition to save the Plémont headland and return it back to its natural state, and in October 2006 the States overwhelmingly backed a proposition to preserve the site.
Despite this, no firm offer has been put forward and this week Plémont Estates Ltd applied to Planning to demolish the holiday camp to build 73 self-catered tourist chalets.
• Picture: The National Trust for Jersey want the States to buy the former Pontin’s holiday camp at Plémont for the benefit of the Island
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The states should buy it and build housing on it and nevermind the NIMBY’s ( not in my back yard ) who object. We have a shortage of affordable housing and no shortage of countryside for the Bill Oddie types to spend hours twitching in.
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Surely it is time for the states to allow someone to destroy another of Jersey’s natural treasures?
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Please buy it. 5 Million is nothing after the incinerator and the 3 million blunder.
If planning permission is given its only a matter of time until its housing as opposed to self catering. Look at L’etacq’s self catering apartments, there now housing.
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Comment 2 – “Surely it is time for the states to allow someone to destroy another of Jersey’s natural treasures?”
What Pontins?
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There is too much money there to walk on by. A nice little project for a certain local company that builds loads of flats me thinks. Nevermind the puffins blame their demise on the fishermen. Least said soonest mended.
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Maybe we could find a compromise. Preserve the old Pontin’s holiday as a memorial to 60’s tourist ‘kish’, the highpoint of tourism industry in Jersey.
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Ok Dee Mented could you afford to buy a house on that site ?? I dont think so !! no more then I could. Once again a ploy to submit an application in the name of tourism. Excuse me, anyone looks at tourism numbers to this island lately obviously not. If this planning application should be passed how long do you think it will take before a change of use to residential is applied for ?? Have a guess I dare you….this land should go back to nature to right a wrong many years ago.
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I think we need a centre parcs style upmarket family tourist development on this island – and where better than Plemont?
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@ Dee Mented, comment 1.
I agree the NIMBY’s objections shouldn’t be the death knell of every reasonable planning application in Jersey, but there’s no reason for the States to spend public money buying this property.
The value of the property with planning permission would be higher than an equivalent sized property without the fantastic location; so why on earth would the public pay the premium and then build ‘affordable’ (which I assume means less than market value) housing?
Personally I think the area could do with a far larger development for the benefit of the whole island and it’s tourist industry, but it’ll never happen because the ‘leaders’ of this island lack vision.
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I agree that the States should buy it and return it to nature. They manage to squander huge amounts of our tax money on wasteful and stupid things – this is something worthwhile for the benefit of all.
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What an ideal place to put the reservoir for wave powered electricity generation.
Large area , enough altitude.
And it would not spoil the view like those hideous wind farms
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@ Jacqueline, comment 7.
Which other sites would you return to nature too Jacqueline?
The St Aubin Bay sea wall? surely the beach should be allowed to return to it’s natural state?
Elizabeth Castle? surely the natural bedrock would be better than a development purely in the interest of war?
Get real.
IF the public want to return this site to nature it’s going to cost, and with no real benefit. If everybody goes to enjoy the natural environment it’ll be destroyed by footfall. It’s only a minority of nature lovers that will enjoy this huge expense, but will they pay for it themselves?
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Seriously though,When is enough…really enough..? the build on everything brigade would not stop ’till we were like Hong kong..result total loss of the very thing that we love about the island, real thinkers already know that less is more, if we are to lure tourists back..then natural open spaces are essential…’cos they’re not making any more of it…..return it to nature,greed total mindless greed is what drives these building schemes…and what is greed but a belief that there will never be enough money,so how much is enough…really how much…go on ,say how much……….?
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Someone needs to stand up and say enough is enough. We cannot carry on like this. The island is not one big building site for developers to do as they want with.
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David Stephens 8 – Centre Parcs would be great and would give us an influx of revenue not dependant upon finance.
Troy 9 – you are of course right, it’s prime land, would you aree with centre Parcs?
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@ truthseeker, comment 13
Is the nature on offer actually luring any tourists here at the moment? And even if it did where’s the income from these tourists ‘enjoying nature’? Don’t forget that the point of a tourism industry is to make money.
You contradict yourself in saying that natural spaces aren’t being made anymore, and then suggest that the development be returned to nature; so natural space *can* be created??
You say real thinkers know less is more; but the opposite argument could be made: More, appropriate and well designed, development could mean less reliance on the finance industry, greater tax receipts and a cheaper and better standard of living for all the people of Jersey. The cost? the re-development in this case of a derelict site.
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#11 PJG
What a brilliant idea. A pumped storage scheme like the ones in Snowdonia and Loch Awe.
I think that this should be put before the minister.
If he gives you credit for suggesting the reservoir perhaps I can jump in and take credit for suggesting that they use one of the caves below for the turbine hall?
There are plenty of other sites for simlar schemes: Ronez, Les Platons, Fort Regent…
Once the island is running on cheap energy there should be no further obstacles to exponential growth and a big increase in population and development.
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perfect site for a gigantic out of town casino
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Just make it an amusement park for the rich, oh sorry we’ve got one already called Jersey.
A casino will probably be the fall back position the states will adopt when finance gets hit too hard. After all one has to make one’s money somehow doesn’t one? A change from one sort of gambling to another would be in keeping in my opinion.
As far as I am concerned truthseeker is right more is less. Over development, like we have, can only have but one outcome the destruction of all that is good about Jersey i.e. its culture, its history, its environment, its open spaces. Does anyone want to live in a concrete jungle no matter how well it is designed?
Too many people in too small an area leads to violence, crime, disease, food shortages, environmental distruction is this what those who wish for progress really want? We are living in an unsustainable world and it cannot carry on. What do you propose to do about it besides carry on down the consumer driven capitalistic, greed, me, me, me, culture you think is great at the moment?
Too many people are appathetic about things until they face extinction, then they suddenly start shouting from the roof tops. However by then it may well be too late….
In the mean time enjoy yourselves, you never know you might be lucky enough to get away with it. However what about your children or grandchildren? Maybe it still doesn’t bother you. In today’s world one of the most spoken phrases I hear is “who cares?” It is this attitude that will only make things worse for everyone.
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Self Catering sounds great, and i’m glad that individuals in Jersey still see tourism for what it could be. The Channel Islands as a whole should be packed with tourists. Instead its packed with bankers (albeit 66 less bankers)
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Self-catering would certainly make it easier for my family to come visit me. I have friends as well who would be more likely to come if there was good self-catering facilities. Cheap flights abroad doesn’t have to mean the end of tourism, it just means you have to adapt. You would have security issues though with putting lots of self-catering in one area though, it needs to be spread throughout the island.
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troy 16 …Limited thinking there…you see “They” have ably demonstrated that no matter how much revenue we generate…they spend and squander it so it is an endless game of futility….whereas nature has a value that nothing can buy…why do you think brilliant and sensitive minds like Sir David Attenbrough have spent a lifetime trying to show us the intrinsic values… with a view to preserving .because when it’s gone it’s…really gone
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Adrian, unfortunately you cannot stop population increase unless you introduce a culling system. Human population is designed to grow until it reachs a peak point which will naturally occur, we have not reached it yet.
If you think you can keep the population low in Jersey by stopping people from coming in you are wrong. Unless you plan on cutting off Jersey from the rest of the world, it simply is not a solution. Jersey is not and never will be cut off the world, your elitist views are tiresome and borish.
Over population is a world issue and cannot be stopped unless we employ barbaric inhumane policies. Your attitude is admirable after all history has taught us that barbarianism in the face of world issues does help particular groups, look at Gingus Kahn and what he achieved with simular principles to yours.
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Center Parcs we had them on the waterfront and planning let them go! (So unlikely to waste another load of money trying to come again!)
we once thought it okay to develop there, that is now in rack and ruin so lets build something there for locals, how about only allowing A-H licences regardless of age etc so the properties built will always be owned and lived in by local people, that way the eyesore gets developed and the local community benefit any thoughts???
On population control, good luck, who is going to tell the children of today you can only have 1 child or oh sorry this years quota is full so no more? as said above its natural, we are living longer and having children so forget allowing others in we will grow naturally
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mad scouser the population goes up and up until people end up starving to death or killing each other to survive. How very humane of you.
Are future generations really going to thank preceeding generations when they are left with a big mess due to lack of fore sight?
I have only stated the obvious as you say Jersey will continue to take people in until it is itself destroyed then what? Replicate this world wide and there will be nowhere to hide the consequences of over population. Reverend Malthus explains quite well what is in store for humanity.
So mad scouser until then carry on as normal, then people can start killing each other later on, if the planet or something else hasn’t done the job first!
By the way this isn’t elitest it will be plain fact at some stage, unless something else sorts the problem out first.
I wonder how people from the mainland view the migrants settling there? Are they all pleased as punch about their new neighbours?
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Gary (24), on population control we wouldn’t need a one child policy, even a two child policy would see significant population decrease with people emigrating and some people having 1 or no children. We need an immigration policy which says NO more non essential immigrants. With essential jobs being those such as doctors and teachers.
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#23 Mad Scouser wrote
“Human population is designed to grow until it reachs a peak point which will naturally occur, we have not reached it yet.”
Is this a documented fact or your opinion?
Perhaps you can tell us who did the designing and also how you will know when we have reached the natural peak. May be it will be when, as Adrian suggests, we run out of food.
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With the £ sterling having devalued dramatically against the Euro and other currencies and likely to remain that way for a long time because of the massive debts Gordon Brown and the British Government have incuured in the process Jersey has been presented with an opportunity to regenerate its Tourism industry.
A new resort developement could play an important part of that and should be supported by the States as part of an initiative to boost the Jersey economy when the future of Finance is looking uncertain and our Chief Minister continues to look for more ways to increase taxes on islanders.
What is the merit in spending a large amount of Tax Payers money to purchase a large pile of builders rubble in order to grow gorse
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Anyone who hasn’t worked out by now that there will eventually be a development at Plemont like the one at Corbiere is living in Cloud Cuckoo Island.
A lot of people would love the view. Pity that they will be stung with open ended service charges.
The Romans should have called the island “Dandarea”.
“It’s how we (the establishment) like things”.
As you all know, “Theres a boat …”
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Annie #26 , ok so what about farm workers are our childrenand grandchildren going to sow a field on a cold winters morning for the minimum wage? or work in retail for the same.
In theory you are right but the reality is very different, ask your family if they would prefer more people in Jersey and no requirement to farm or less people and they farm, i bet we both know the answer
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25, Adrian. 27, Bougard.
My point is this, we are all stuck on this planet, the population has been steadily increasing since humans first evolved. We are designed to pro-create, create new life – its what drives us as humans, whatever sexual persuasion or religion.
Since nobody can actually explain why we are all here, or what are purpose is, it seems to me that we just have to get on with it as best as we can. Unless we kill people we dont want or ‘force them off our land’ or introduce some sort of ‘population control’i.e. Hitler, there is nothing we can do about it. Its natural, and natural selection will prevail.
Your small Island views are shared by but a small minority, a mere teardrop in an ocean. If France or England needed your land they would take it, and there is nothing you could do about it. So you can rant and rave about immigrants as much as you like but in the end no one cares because they realise the true reality of the modern world we live in – 2009.
In any event this blog is about Plemont, have you got anything sensible to add? !
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Mad Scouser I believe we are here to learn and evolve into better beings.
It is not natural to destroy nature!
You have misunderstood what I am trying to say. Any place whether Jersey or the UK can only take so many people whether local or migrant and once they go above this limit there will be serious consequences won’t there?
Or to put it another way if Britain can only support a population of 100 M for example it doesn’t matter if all of these people are Chinese or Britain or Indian it is the number that says enough is enough. This has nothing to do with race but numbers, do you now see where I am coming from?
I also find it amazing that certain people from up north expect preferential treatment where ever they go, as “don’t you know we are English?” They seem to think they are superior to everyone else. They are also not in favour of migrants in their own country, but are quite happy to be migrants in someone elses country, but expect better tretment than they themselves would give the migrants to their own country if they were still there.
A basic analogy to your “breed as if there is no tomorrow free will state”, would be some locusts in a field they are no problem till they breed like there is no tomorrow then they become a plague and destroy all crops in sight. Is this a sensible way to carry on for a so called intelligent species?
Everyone bangs on about all their rights however at some stage people have to think about the consequences of exercising their rights. Sometimes they even have to curtail their rights for the good of the planet before they themselves get curtailed by the planet itself.
As per England it can’t even look after itself properly so I wouldn’t worry about them. If we are talking about belonging to anywhere it would be Brittany or Normandy where our historical links lie not England which was only anexxed by Willian the Conquerer in 1066, because it had an incompetent ruler.
As per Plemont leave it alone for the puffins they need somewhere to breed out of the way of humans. They are in danger of not breeding in Jersey any more. Maybe you think nice modern houses are better than local wildlife? I don’t.
What right has one species i.e. man to dislodge or destroy another species? I say none.
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Why not make Plemont the youth centre that the island seems to need? Put on buses to take the kids safely there and back. I was suggesting that for the old swimming pool up at Fort Regent but then why not have it somewhere else on the island.
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Part of evolving is learning from our surroundings and what we see happening, if we don’t then I think we shouldn’t class ourselves as evolving. It is simply common sense that an island this size can only sustain so many people. It would take time to come up with a good mathematical formula to work out the number but I don’t doubt someone could do it. Britain is no different, it is also a small island and can only sustain so many people.
That’s not racism whether you want it to be or not, it is just a simple fact. Even this earth can only sustain a set number of people, no matter how huge it may seem.
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anything must be better than the clapped out run down buildings that are there now.
i do think that the height should not exceed the existing structures.
also no more unaffordable housing and no more cupboard style flats.
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Oh well done Adrian and Leah in realising the Earth can only sustain a certain amount of people – Gold Stars for you. At least you will be o.k. in your palaces as the minions of the planet i.e. those born to less fortunate families perish and die because they are less fortunate than you.
As for Northerners not welcoming migrants – completely wrong.
As for Northerners realising idiots from down south need to wake up and live in the real world – yes your right.
Unless your both planning on culling the human population then it will grow and people will come looking for food, shelter abd a better way of life – will you turn them away, close the door, sit back and watch as they perish?
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Adrian who are you to deny somebody the right to have children?
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Mad Scouser. The planet can only fed so many people let us say 6B for arguments sake. What happens when there are more than 6B?
Will those with no food accept the fact and just die or will they fight with others to get their food? What will happen to law and order?
Is this a good position to put future generations in because you for example want 20 kids?
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