Dispute over homes plan for aged

Tuesday 17th November 2009, 2:57PM GMT.

The field in St Ouen which the Constable wants to use for up to 20 new homes for the elderly

THE Constable of St Ouen, Ken Vibert, wants to build up to 20 homes for the elderly on an agricultural field after the conditions of a will were changed.

Beryl Coulter, who died two years ago, left between £2 and £3 million to the parish of St Ouen. In her will she stated that the money should be used to provide housing for the elderly and that construction should start within three years of the registration of her will. If construction did not start in that time, the money was to be donated to Jersey Hospice.

Although three years have not yet passed, Mr Vibert applied successfully to have the condition of the time limit changed. He said: ‘The clause has been removed because it was impractical to get what she wanted, which was houses for the elderly in St Ouen, in that time frame.’

The Deed of Variation was accepted by all parties, including Jersey Hospice, and was placed before the Royal Court. But artist Rosemary Blackmore, whose house overlooks the field, said that such a move would be ‘immoral’.

She is opposing the development which is to be discussed at a meeting at the Parish Hall this evening, starting at 7.30 pm.

1
david brown

November 17, 2009 at 4:35 pm

i hope planning do not hold this up, its a gift to the island , and as they say , dont look a gift horse in the mouth.
and the nimbys should be ashamed of themselves.

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2
Magnolia Man

November 17, 2009 at 7:27 pm

While applauding the late Beryl Coulter’s noble and laudable gesture it does seem that Jersey planning laws and regulations can be bent to suit the Connetable.

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3
Elaine

November 17, 2009 at 11:20 pm

So leaving a will stipulating your wishes is pointless, because any centenier can get it changed if he feels your wishes are ‘impracticle’. Maybe the woman had very sound reasons for stipulating the time frame, but the Centenier doesn’t care about her wishes does he? Both the homes for the elderly and the Jersey Hospice are very deserving causes, and I could not and would not want to put one before the other, but I would most definately put the very kind, deceased lady’s wishes first and foremost, and would never get them changed because they are ‘impracticle’. There were her wishes, and should be adhered to. What a sad story.

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4
J Lamborrari

November 18, 2009 at 10:05 am

What an insult! If I leave instructions in my will I would expect them to be followed. There was no need to alter this person’s will, it’s a disgrace.

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5
Bean

November 18, 2009 at 3:33 pm

Your missing the points, the money is one thing & already settled (and no I do not agree with the changing of a will), the planning for the field is another and seperate issue, Mr. Vibert is using the money as a smoke screen to get planning for the field. The time scale is no longer an issue he can apply for planning on any field he likes, why has he waited for 2 years? He could have applied for any piece of land in the parish.

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6
Miro

November 18, 2009 at 5:03 pm

That’s the “Jersey way”, L Lamborrari. Government, even at parish level, rides rough-shod over the citizens’ explicit written wishes.

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