Park users Pat Marett and granddaughter Caitlin De Carteret are looking forward to the Delancey upgrade. (0790924)
DELANCEY residents have supported plans for the neighbouring park’s regeneration.
But there is concern that a new monument would attract vandals.
The newly formed Admiral de Saumarez Trust is out to raise £800,000 to revitalise the park and to build a 100ft high obelisk clad in stainless steel to replace the monument to the admiral that was destroyed during the Occupation.
Pat Marett, 63, often uses the neighbouring park with her four-year-old granddaughter, Caitlin de Carteret.
She was more interested in upgrading the park than erecting the monument.
‘There is lots of history there, but it does seem like a lot of money. It would be great to see the park regenerated. It would be nice to have a cafe and some seats would be ideal.
‘They need to make it nice for the youngsters.’
Nancy Leslie, 90, can see the park from her home. She was concerned that vandalism might spoil any future plans for the park.
‘The monument will be all right, as long as the children leave it alone,’ she said.
‘I hope they regenerate it, but they will need to look after it.’
She was undecided about the obelisk’s design.
‘I’m not sure what to think about the stainless steel,’ she said.
‘It’s a bit different.’
Taxi driver Tim Morris, 58, said the money would be better spent on other projects.
‘In principle it’s a lovely idea,’ he said.
‘But it will be a magnet for vandalism and the money could be spent elsewhere, like on the health service or care for the elderly.’
The plans for Delancey Park monument will go before the planning department at the end of next month and the trust hopes to have it finished by May next year.
The regeneration of the park is expected to take longer.
Pastor Jonathan Le Tocq, who is heading the regeneration project, wants public input into improving the area.
Jean Packer has lived next to the park for more than 20 years and remembered the original monument from when she attended the nearby secondary modern in 1938.
She said she was pleased with the proposed monument.
‘I’m delighted,’ she said.
‘It was sad that the original was destroyed, but I’m very happy with the plans for the replacement.
‘I know granite would be too expensive now and I think the plans look good.’
She said Delancey Park had been undervalued in the past and hoped the plans to revamp the site would help people to realise its potential.
Neighbours Adrian Forget, 24, and Elise Park, 20, were also pleased about the news.
They regularly take five-month-old daughter Caroline for walks in the park.
‘I think it will be great to see it redone,’ said Mr Forget.
‘I don’t really mind about the monument, but we’d love to see the playground replaced.
‘We just hope it all looks nice.’
n Ideas for the regeneration of Delancey Park should be sent to jon@letocq.co.uk.
Article posted on 29th June, 2009 - 2.29pm
6 Article Comments
Well, I bet the usual crowd of scrotes will be rubbing their hands with utter excitement over the the prospect of having a new, expensive surface to bash, smash, scratch and deface. Problem is that when these things are vandalised, we, the tax apyer, have to fork out to get these things cleaned or repaired.
Surely, would it not be better to spend the money more wisely and to include much better facilities and apperatus at the park than just erecting a big stainless steel stick? After all the kids wont care about it. Also include CCTV so that it maybe monitor at all times.
GD.
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You cannot make decisions based upon a fear of vandalism. If kids want to vandalise something they will do it – whether it is an expensive monument, a park bench, a newly planted tree or a phone kiosk.
The key is to make sure that the area feels looked after, used and appreciated – that in itself reduces vandalism.
Kids do not generally set out with a plan to vandalise things, but if an area is already rundown then vandalism will continue because the kids will see no reason to take care with it.
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I was amazed at the reduction in problems (including glass) up at the park after a few simple measures were taken – including removing the seating so there were less places for kids to sit drinking and smashing bottles. It shows that what we put in the park DOES affect vandalism. And I think that improving the play area is the best use of any money at the moment with the added bonus of being less likely to encourage vandalism than some huge monument.
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dear oh dear!
What folly can be commited by persons long gone to a better place;
Why is SO much money spent on dead heroes (?) than on our future in the form of our children of today.
If some of that money was put to use of Policing the park in a proper manner.
People could do the policing, and a suitable reward could be made for their vigilance.
Go anywhwere in the world and you will see useless ornaments of great cost, FOR WHAT?
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Eric,
Firstly, I dont agree with this particular monument, because I feel the money could be better/ more wisely spent at delancy.
However…
I think you already know the answer to your question.
Do you propose that we just abandon all thought of people who have done great things to make this world a better place to live in?
Maybe we should stop teaching history at school, who cares what happened in 1939-1945 eh?? And all those good men/ women across history that died in favour of just causes.
Maybe while we are at it, we should get rid of all the graveyards too.
If children are taught about heroes, then maybe they will grow up to be a better person.
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To the Cat,
My objection is to the use of our land for those whose only call to fame is they fought for
; to me foreign country.
Never once did I at my school hear about the heroes of Guernsey, or any other country for that matter; all was pointedly at English dominance in their Empire.
They do not have the right to continue with their so called ‘Greater days’
Next we’ll be having statues the those who started the slave trade and that much we did learn; only it was taught as if it was a great help to the world.
In London is a Statue to Boadicea named Queen of England, she wasn’t she was queen of Iceni (now known as Norfolk)
her rise to fame was because she opposed the Romans because they stole from her.
Far too many of these statues are false, however if the English or any country wishes to erect them then that’s OK by me, but not on our soil.
I’m against all the hero worship of England read our History and you’ll find many of our people have through the ages opposed the infiltration of the Saxons into our lives,
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