Residents voice concerns over St Aubin refuge
Friday 18th February 2011, 2:58PM GMT.
The scene at St Brelade’s Parish Hall last night for the meeting, at which Colin Taylor (top) explained his plans for the refuge
MORE than 150 Islanders packed into St Brelade’s Parish Hall last night to voice arguments for and against controversial plans to open a refuge for men in St Aubin.
The Caring Hands Christian charity has faced fierce criticism after announcing plans to turn the Sabots d’Or guest house in the High Street into Jersey’s first refuge for men.
Many residents fear that the refuge will house alcoholics and drug users or be used as a half-way house for men recently released from prison. But Colin Taylor, of the charity, has stressed that the centre will offer short-term accommodation to drink- and drug-free men who have simply suffered a crisis in their lives.
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I do wonder if the same ‘outrage’ would be shown over a women’s refuge?
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I saw the NIMBY on TV last night, no constructive argument and what she had to say was thinly veiled nimbyism.
It’s going to be run by a Christian organisation for people who are drink and drug free and need a helping hand. I’m sure when it was a guest house drunks were more of a problem than it’s proposed use will ever be, self funding as well.
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Well, I went there with an open mind – I can see both points of view.
But when the Chef de Police said, quite clearly, that it was a totally inappropriate place, and that there was no way the police or honorary police would be able provide any proper cover, you have to wonder whether it is the right sort of place.
Another point that was made was that it’s right opposite two very vibrant bars – now that’s not going to make life easier for the refuge residents, is it?
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I think there is a lot of misguided and ill informed ‘hot air’ out there, but nobody wants to admit the real problem.
I have no doubt there is a problem, I have seen the problem first hand. The fact is Jersey is seen as rich island where the streets, if not paved with gold, are a lot better than what you would get back home, so on they come. The honest, the hard working, the drunks and ne’er do wells.
The States need to put up the full sign and discourage all immigration, or welcome all comers. Not very ‘Politically Correct’ but a real philosophical problem that our States members will want to wrestle with during Lent.
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Some people just need to get over themselves, this charity is trying to help men in need, so what if it is ‘housing alcoholics and drug users’ at least they are!!
Love the last, the least and the lost.
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If it is to do what the charity says then all credit to them and shame on those objecting to it. Like other commenters I highly doubt there would be such objections to a women or children’s refuge!
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I’ve been an outreach nurse for recovering alcohol and drugs abusers. One of the first lessons is that there’s no such thing as a recovered alcoholic / drug addict – only a recovering alcoholic or addict
So it makes no sense at all to house vulnerable people opposite the Village Wine Bar, or around the corner from the Old Boat House, the Tenby, the Old Court House etc. – it’s just wrong from a simple theraputic perspective.
To Lulu and the others supporting the idea – you need to understand that this will cause far more harm through daily temptation – what’s needed is sanctuary.
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Reading the statement by the chairman of the St Aubin’s Residents Association in the JEP this evening, actually highlights how out of touch this woman is, with the people she represents.
The concerns the people had last night were valid concerns about the location of the refuge in the High St opposite the two pubs and close to a restaurant, this was a concern for the people entering the refuge and their anonymity, having to run the gauntlet of the people who frequent these establishments, who after a few drinks can be quite vocal and intimidating as a person passes. The other main concern was the funding, Colin did give an answer though I would say it was not totally clear how continued funding was going to be found other than the charges being levied on those who use the facility and charitable donations.
At no point did anyone say that the shelter should not be in St Aubin, they did questioned its current location but not that it should be else where in the island. There were offers of help to find an alternate location within the parish and a few tongue in cheek comments about using the parish hall and even the Parish Church Hall.
This women is quoted as saying, in the JEP, that the consensus was that the shelter should not be in St Aubin, which is just not true. This is her opinion, not that of the people present last night. She is also on record, at the BBC, as saying that the shelter should be in St Helier which is apparently the advice she got from various experts.
I spoke to various experts on Thursday afternoon and unanimously they said the island is calling out for establishments such as this one to be set up outside of St Helier, in the parishes.
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3 What an absolutely stupid comment from the Honorary police…half a dozen sober men are not going to be even noticed compared to the droves of drunks tipping out the pubs down there,there is more aggro in the taxi office down there with P***ed oiks arguing over who was first..totally insulting I hope the Constable Jackson makes the apologise…or perhaps they now wish to remove the Honor from their title along with all the other dumming down and ill named political correctness,if ever there was a misnomer..Jersey is the most politically incorrect place I can think of outside Zimbabwe…
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I have regularly stayed in the pretty village of St. Aubin when revisitng the island. I can see the need for a shelter like this, but this is hardly the place to put it as I am sure it will have an adverse impact on the locality. This will damage the reputation of the village and reduce the attraction to the area.
I know that many of the unfortuante folk, who rely on sheletered accommodation like this need help. This mostly comes from charitable contributions.
If people are deterred from visiting the village, where there is a vibrant economy with numerous first rate guest houses and excellent restaurants, tourism will suffer and businesses will collapse. This will result in less money being available for donations to charity.
I know there are those who will accuse me of nimbyism – well you can’t really; I unfortunately no longer live in Jersey. I am just trying to be an objective outsider.
I have seen what it was like in the town where a shelter is located. Many drunks would congregate in the nearby Parade Gardens – can you iamgine what it would be like if drunks gathered in around St. Aubin’s harbour? That will impress visitors won’t it?
At the end of the day it’s not my decision, but if they go ahead with this idea, it will be another nail in the coffin of Jersey’s already seriously declining tourism industry – It’s a bad idea.
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Blue Knight. Congratulaions for adding your name to the list of ignorant, biggotted and the plain shameful.
As I understand it this is a REFUGE for men who are going through a crisis in their lives and need support and respite to help them get back on their feet. It is NOT a shelter for drunks and drug addicts.
Are you seriously saying that tourists will be deterred from going for a meal in St Aubins because there is someone living in the area who may have suffered a bereavement or lost their job.
This may be how your mind works, but thankfully not for the rest of us, aside some of those who live in St Aubins of course.
A chap I know in the UK lost his wife and 3 children many years ago in a house fire. He understandably went to pieces, lost his job, home and sank into depression. It was a refuge like this that helped this guy bet back onto his feet and help him see that there is some purpose to his life.
From chatting to this chap, I would suggest that St Aubins is just the place for this kind of refuge. Apart from one thing though: The bloody awful people living there!
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Blue Knight (if that really was you and not a doppleganger!),your comments really surprise me, you normally put forward well reasoned,intelligent remarks,did you realise that this is a ‘crisis’ centre for drug and alcohol free men?
But don’t worry though, there are plenty of other bigoted ill-informed willing to stick their oar in!
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‘But don’t worry though, there are plenty of other bigoted ill-informed willing to stick their oar in!’
And no doubt quite a few who can safely appear to be public spirited because it won’t affect them either way.
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12.C Le Verdic……..Would you care to explain how this crisis accommodation will ‘affect’the residents?
These are men (possibly you may know someone that has been through a crisis?)that have suffered a bereavement or similar and are being assisted and cared for in a Christian manner.
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Let us just hope that those objecting never fall on hard times. ST Aubin, Gorey what does it matter . Better for it to be placed in a rural parish than the centre of town.Everyone is entitle to a new start in life and I can truthfully say it wouldn’t matter to me if it was next door to my family. If anything I would do my utmost to help those who have less than I.
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How about reading what I wrote, Black Rat, before rounding on me? If I had meant (St Aubin) residents I would have said so. It should be fairly obvious that I was referring to non involved tut tutters and adding weight to your comment.
To make things absolutely clear, I don’t live in St Aubin. Too shady in the evenings for me. Enjoy a midday walk around the harbour on a neap high tide (so I don’t have to see and smell the mud)looking at the once cherished boats that have been moored there to end their days in peace.
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Chris # 10 and Black Rat # 11 (ex-traffic copper eh?), I am afraid it really is me; I am not a doppleganger.
Call me bigoted if you like, I wont trade insults with you. I have my views and I am as entitled to them as you are to yours.
I simply do not believe that the Sabots d’Or Guest House in St. Aubin, is a suitable place for the shelter. How would you like it if was proposed to have a shelter immediately next to your home? It’s all very well of accusing people of nimbyism without considering all the factors or views that differ to your own.
La Rue Du Crocquet is a very picturesque part of the island, which is a huge draw for tourists to the island. Like it or not, if you put a night shelter in this area, it will impact on tourism. People who regularly book holiday accommodation in the locality will be deterred from returning if they see the residents of the shelter lingering in the street. I will however still visit the area when I revist the island…..if I am spared.
Of course I empathise with the plight of the people who need accommodation in a shelter, I just think it will be a mistake to place the shelter in what was Sabots d’Or Guest House.
Please don’t accuse me of not caring – you don’t know me or what I have done in the past, to help the less fortunate than myself.
By the way a bigot “is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs.” My belief is different to yours, but I am not intolerant of you view – I am merely expressing an alternative view on the subject. When all said and done, it doesn’t really matter to me as I no longer live in the area.
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Kate # 14. Words are cheap – have you ever lived next to a night shelter?
In my experience, the majority of the residents of the shelter in town were decent people. However there were a number of highly volitile men who were accommodated there. They caused not only problems to their fellow residents, but to staff, volunters and neighbours alike. They were sometimes noisy and violent – I have seen it for myself.
I would ask why you think it would be better to locate the proposed shelter in an out of town location? All of the facilites and services (police/ambulance/fire & rescue) needed to assist the staff and volunteers are in St. Helier, not St. Aubin or Gorey, nor indeed any of the other parishes.
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This was done in a city i was working in on mainland ,and the same arguments raged about placing the hostel near a market that had been around for 3ooyrs,within ten yrs of the hostel being put there ,the market closed up through the shoplifting stabbings over drugs and drink breakins etc.it WILL pull the area down very fast.
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Blue Knight….I think you need to do some research into this, its not a ‘night shelter’ like the ones ‘we’ have had experience of, but accommodation for men suffering some sort of temporary crisis such as a bereavement etc, of course I appreciate different opinions but yours seems to be ill researched on this occasion!
And to you and others, I really wouldn’t care if I was lucky enough to be able to live in that street
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19.Derek….more ill-informed comment!
IT ISN’T A DRUNK/DRUGGIE SHELTER, CAN’T PEOPLE GET THAT INTO THEIR TH#CK HEADS?
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