SIR DAVID and Sir Frederick Barclay’s move to buy substantial amounts of property in Sark is continuing. And pressure is mounting for the Brecqhou owners to let residents know what their intentions are.

In addition to reported deals to buy La Rondellerie and Le Vieux Port tenement and Le Clos Messervy freehold, residents now believe they will also buy La Jaspellerie and La Moinerie tenements and another property on the west coast.

This is on top of their purchase of the lease of the Beau Regard Hotel and son Duncan Barclay’s move to secure La Fripponerie tenement.

Deputy Paul Williams said yesterday that residents’ reactions had been varied.

‘I’m concerned that until we know to the contrary, there might be an ulterior motive and we can’t understand what it is,’ said Deputy Williams.

‘Unless it’s because of the way the Barclays are. They are investors in properties and Sark’s a brilliant investment because the properties would go down as something a little bit different.’

He added that some residents thought the investment was positive and might bring more finance into the island in one way or another.

‘The others, to be fair quite rightly, feel concerned as to which way it’s going – if the properties are continued to be bought up at the speed at which they have been, what will happen to the island itself? Will we be under total control of somebody else and have no power whatsoever?’

Sark douzaine president Edric Baker and his wife own two tenements in Sark – Port a la Jument and Le Dos d’Ane.

He had not been approached about selling them by the Brecqhou owners.

‘We’re a bit perplexed by it all – a bit shell-shocked in many ways,’ he said.

‘I’m not sure what the implications are for the future. On one side there’s the Barclays saying how bad Sark is – they had such a huge spread in the Guernsey Press sort of running Sark down, saying how bad it was, dusty roads and paths – but on the other hand they are buying it up. To me, that doesn’t add up.’

He said people were now playing a waiting game.

‘None of us likes change. I’m in my 60s and have seen a lot of change in Sark.’

At the moment, property sales must be approved by the Seigneur, Michael Beaumont, who has declined to comment.

The prospective purchaser approaches him and, if he is happy, he gives permission, or conge.

The seller will also speak to the Seigneur.

Once permission has been given, it goes to court. There the purchaser will pay treizieme, one-thirteenth of the property price, to the Seigneur.

This is followed by a period under the law of retraite, to allow any close relatives interested in the property to come forward and buy it back. After this period has elapsed, the court sits again.

But this traditional way of buying property in Sark will soon change after Chief Pleas agreed to new laws abolishing the Seigneur’s claim to feudal dues and bringing in a property tax.

The Seigneur and Senechal yesterday had not been notified of any of the expected deals.