Heritage groups accept part-demolition of listed building

Thursday 29th October 2009, 2:56PM GMT.

La Fantaisie, which will be fully restored

OBJECTIONS from three heritage bodies about the partial demolition of a 200-year-old listed building were withdrawn before a Planning meeting last week.

The National Trust, Save Jersey’s Heritage and the Société Jersiaise had previously called on Environment Minister Freddie Cohen to save St Juste, one of only four examples of the cottage ornée style left in the Island.

Merton Hotel owner David Seymour had applied to Planning for partial demolition of the building of local importance to build an indoor bowls hall. But ultimately the organisations agreed that the benefit of restoring La Fantaisie, a site of special interest, outweighed losing a part of St Juste.

National Trust chief officer Charles Alluto said: ‘The National Trust and Save Jersey’s Heritage withdrew their objections to the proposals for St Juste, as on balance we considered that the full repair of La Fantaisie was of paramount importance and that although the proposed alterations to St Juste were regrettable, the setting of the building is already heavily compromised due to the existing FlowRider, tennis court and swimming pool.

‘In addition, the internal detailing of St Juste is of a lower architectural quality compared to La Fantaisie.’

1
Mogit

October 29, 2009 at 5:21 pm

As has been said sooooo many times before-it’s not what you know but who you know !!!

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2
Lydia

October 29, 2009 at 6:11 pm

“although the proposed alterations to St Juste were regrettable, the setting of the building is already heavily compromised due to the existing FlowRider, tennis court and swimming pool.”

The same argument could be used in relation to to Elizabeth Castle. It now has on its doorstep a large number of completely unsympathetic modern constructions, standing where 20 years was an expansive area of sandy beach leading up to the castle’s front door. Therefore, Elizabeth Castle has been “compromised”.

So if somebody wishes to demolish a chunk of the castle to create access to a bowling alley on the breakwater, that’ll be OK?

Save Jersey’s Heritage and The National Trust should have taken a stand on PRINCIPLE regarding St. Juste. If we can no longer rely on you to do something as simple as that, who are we supposed to rely on?

Thanks for nothing.

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3
Adrian

October 31, 2009 at 1:15 pm

Who compromised this property in the first place? It was planning who gave permission for the compromising development origionally. Two wrongs don’t make a right do they?

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