TORTEVAL may face a ratepayers’ rebellion. A rise in the occupier’s rate is expected to cover a repair bill for the parish church estimated at anything between £250,000 and £500,000.
‘The decision ultimately lies with the ratepayers. If the majority say it’s no go, its no go,’ said Torteval vice-dean Bill Robilliard.
A working party has been set up to assess if repairs can be staggered, possibly over 10 years. It will take its findings to an open meeting next spring.
Occupier’s rates would need to rise to more than £10 in the £ to cover the whole cost of repairs.
‘When the constables and parish clerk were collecting rates two weeks ago, there was a stream of parishioners who complained about this year’s increase of 59% to £1.65 in the £,’ said senior constable Peter Pannett.
‘Since then, parishioners who own property in Torteval and other parishes have complained to their deputies - David Grut and David de Lisle. Several others have contacted douzeniers and said that if the rates did go up, they would leave the parish.’
He said that the matter was discussed at the most recent douzaine meeting and it was agreed to write to HM Procureur.
‘We want to know where we stand if the parishioners vote against that part of the rates proposals in May. Even if that vote is won, those against the remede could object in the Royal Court and the court would have to decide.
‘The vice-dean has made the Island Douzaine Council and Policy Council aware of our problem.
‘The parish owns the church and it seems to need costly repairs. In a nutshell, there are 363 households with fewer than 1,000 people and a bill of up to £500,000. If we refuse to pay the rate for the repair, what happens next?’
Work on the church has already taken place. This has been covered by a contingency fund. But reserves currently stand at £51,500 - well short of the anticipated costs.
The main area that needs attention is the re-pointing of the tower and the spire.
‘We met on 29 July as a working party and decided we wanted more information. We want to segmentise the work that appears to be necessary so it can be passed in a period of 10 years,’ said Mr Robilliard.
‘It will mitigate the costs, which could be up to a quarter-of-a-million pounds for everything. It’s not something that’s going to happen overnight.’
The combined rateable value in Torteval, the island’s smallest parish, is estimated at about £29,000. Mr Robilliard said that a rise to cover the whole of the repair costs in one go would not happen.
Other possibilities for funding are also being investigated, such as private donations and appeals. By law, each parish is responsible for the upkeep of its church.
‘Purely as a personal view, there’s a feeling drawn to my attention that people who have other faiths than those catered for by the parish church are also asked to upkeep their church as well as the parish’s; to that extent, one has to have sympathy.’
The issue of who pays for the upkeep of the churches is not a new one.
‘It is part of Guernsey’s heritage, these churches. I think it’s a matter the Island Douzaine Council could and may well be reviewing over the next few months.’
Article posted on 7th August, 2004 - 12.00am
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