Town Park granite ‘could have been sourced locally’
Wednesday 21st September 2011, 2:58PM BST.
Nick Vibert at La Saline quarry says the timescale given by TTS was unrealistic
A JERSEY granite supplier has said that given the proper notice, he could have supplied enough local granite for the Millennium Town Park.
The timescales set by the Transport and Technical Services to produce the granite were so tight that over 2,000 tonnes of paving slabs had to be imported from France and China – despite plans for the park spending over 11 years on the drawing board.
The slabs, imported from China by company Granite Le Pelley, were delivered to the Town Park site last week.
Nick Vibert, manager at Jersey firm La Saline Masonry, would have liked to have seen the Town Park paved in Jersey granite.
• See today’s JEP for full report
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
It is the same with the landscaping, pergola works, irrigation etc., etc. Why bring over English firms when there are plenty of ‘more than capable’ local firms that would have been more than happy to price and/or carry out the works. Especially in times of recession.
Report abuse
How would his cost have compared with importing? you would imagine it would be cheaper as it only has to travela few miles but in Jersey I wouldn’t be surprised if it proved cheaper to import from China.
In any event the Polish workers laying the salbs haven’t been trained to work with Jersey granite.
2000 tonnes, how many slabs are there and why does it have to be granite? this white elephant is just rubbing our noses in the brown stuff. A park we don’t need costing £10 million while tax/social/GST have either gone up or are about to. Why can’t the lazy bloody kids walk to the beach, it’ll only end up a refuge for drunks and junkies.
Report abuse
It is cheaper from China, why buy local ?!
This is sick !!!
Report abuse
So much for putting money back into Jersey Company’s this is the fourth or fifth time I have heard that the States have used English/Foreign companies,
I also fought that the competition law/fair trading that the states would at least have to have these contracts up for tender?
Report abuse
Think twice buy local Does not apply to our leaders!
What a kick in the teeth for local firms.
Not to mention the extra cost.
Report abuse
THINK TWICE…. BUY LOCAL???
Jersey we are becoming a joke. You polititions ask us to buy local then do this… nice one!
why not just bury Jersey with chinese granite too.. we feel like we are going under anyway
Report abuse
What they need 11 years? So if the States had spent the money and wasted millions more on local government, imagine the criticism. Good decision!
Report abuse
Everything is cheaper elsewhere than Jersey.
Report abuse
jinsy
Report abuse
What happened to newgate st prison granite?
Report abuse
Talk about ‘Coals to Newcastle’!
What on earth is the point of importing Chinese granite to go on a project in Jersey? It is bound to look different to Jersey granite.
Report abuse
My tea comes from China
Report abuse
I am reliably told that the imported granite was significantly cheaper, better quality and could be delivered far quicker.
If you want the job done well don’t buy local!
Report abuse
What aggravates me is that the States tell us to Think Twice Buy Local and then do the opposite! If they can source items like this and many other examples cheaper from overseas then okay as we need to save money but dont make us feel guilty for doing the same!
If they believe their own rhetoric then they should be doing everything they can to support local businesses but they dont!
It aint one rule for them and one for us … if i can get something cheaper on the internet then down in town then i will just like they are doing.
‘Apparently’ we all in this recession together and we are all being hit hard so just dont make me feel guilty for doing exactly what the States are doing day in day out and sourcing from overseas. Double standards or what!
Report abuse
Well now that I know the granite is imported it has changed my previously held view of complete indifference to this project (in terms of visiting it). Now I can’t wait to get there and put up with screaming kids, people talking loudly on their mobile phones, groups of skateboarding teenagers (subject to their being a parked lorry nearby), weekend drunks and their litter etc etc.
I CAN’T WAIT
Report abuse
Yes God’s Mentor I’m sure you can rely on the fact it was cheaper. No human rights and a history of slave labour will allow a country to produce cheaper, even when that produce has to travel half way across the Globe.
And of course your right, nobody locally is capable of doing a good job.
One can only thank God he chose you oh wise one as his counsel
Report abuse
so who would award that contract…? and why….we are sitting on nothing but solid granite,a local boy wants to supply it…then look at King Street all stone from….? Italy…yes brilliant and again the same questions must be asked why…what would be gained and for who…the public..the Taxpayer…?
Report abuse
Marc Jones (7) Good decision!
Marc, I am not into the ins and outs of the construction contract but a millennium project delivered in 2011 is more than a little behind the power curve. Would you have advocated the 2012 Olympics’ venue be completed by 2025?
This is ‘The Jersey Way’ at its worst. Poor decision making; poor decision!
Report abuse
I hear the Chinese granite is a very good copy.
Report abuse
Even if the local granite would have been more expensive, the money spent on its domestic production would have remained within the island economy – perhaps with the local contractor employing a couple more hands – instead, we get a town park made in China!
Although, as a passing thought, it might be an idea for someone to consider thinking about importing sand from china rather than digging any more out of the pit in St Ouen’s bay…
Report abuse
Those that sanctioned this should be brought to public account, including building control.Chinese granite looks nothing like Jersey granite.It’s whitish with grey specks and weathers down to a bland finish.
Report abuse
Tony #10
Each block of the important granite arched facade of Newgate prison built in 1812 and designed by Victor Prott,a Hanoverian Captain in the King’s German Legion, was carefully numbered on demolition and removed to a secret location, which was relatively secure.Large granite blocks cannot be removed easily, but despite this, it was plundered by thieves and there must have been a degree of collusion for this to happen.Yet no one has been held to account.It would make a good investigative article in the JEP!
Report abuse
Mmmm I think you will find there is more than one type of granite in China Realist.
On another note have you seen the nice granite wall they have taken ages to build at the end of commercial buildings.
Does it really need a wall there? Yes? OK, does it need to be expensive granite (local maybe??) and a stone mason to spend flipping weeks dressing it?
Talk about gold plating when the times do not call for this type of work. Commercial buildings is a hole anyway, no one would notice if the wall had been blocks then a render.
I do wonder sometimes.
Report abuse
Yet another classic blunder. I suspect the imported granite complied with some obscure EU regulation which the Jersey version did not. Otherwise the Jersey firm will have not filled out enough risk asssesment forms!!!
THese people act in our names and it is time someone was held to account for idiotic decisions like this, do they think we would not notice….
Report abuse
Remember the “Think twice buy local” banners on the Avenue….Made in the U.K.! ! ! lasted about 3 days and were in shreds…RIPPED OFF AGAIN LITERALLY..Jersey establishment you are just so full of it…..no wonder we do not believe a word as we become ever more disenfranchised….so your validity as Govt is depleted and dishonored….Total reform and nothing else will repair the rift.
Report abuse
22. Realist
What a load of b******s!
Conspiracy theory rubbish!
The granite facade is complete, fully numbered, photographed and stored away from prying eyes and thieving collusionists.
However, who would want to use a load of rough worked granite pieces with the only dressed blocks being the window and door reveals.
Realist, this is not a Syvret blog site but the real world!! Get a life and research your subject before making such false claims!
Report abuse
do you think they paid the GST on the import?!
Report abuse
26. Un-Realist
So it’s complete then, on your say so. That’s good news, if correct, as my information from several different sources was that the pile had diminished over years. But you are incorrect in stating that “the only dressed blocks being the window and door reveals”, the rest “a load of rough worked granite pieces”. The entire facade was dressed with chamfered rusticated formal blocks, not just the arches and door reveals.Go to google images,enter newgate prison jersey for photographic proof and then we’ll see whom is talking b*****s!
Report abuse