Deputies back neighbours in fighting ‘blot on the skyscape’
Tuesday 18th August 2009, 11:30AM BST.
Showing Coupee Lane as it was – and aiming to save it from a four-storey development on a vacant lot – are, from the left: Angus Perfitt, David Dudley-Owen, Deputy Tom Le Pelley, Deputy Gloria Dudley-Owen, Nic Guillou and Oliver de la Fosse. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0826747)
NEIGHBOURS and deputies have condemned plans for a 24-bedroom development near Cornet Street as too big.
They believe it would destroy the character of the area.
The proposed four-storey building off Coupee Lane would include 12 two-bedroom apartments with parking in the basement. It would be flat roofed.
Oliver de la Fosse, 27, has lived in the area for six months. He said he moved to the street because it was an attractive, historic part of Town.
‘I recognise that the site needs to be developed,’ he said.
‘But there’s no logic squeezing in a square building. It will not be in keeping with the area.’
He pointed out that the Urban Area Plan stated that the character of an area needed to be maintained.
‘I don’t see how this statement can be reconciled with these plans,’ he said.
But the proposed development is in keeping with the area, according to one of the owners of the site.
The latest plans were put forward by Coupee Lane Ltd. The company bought the land six months ago. It already had planning permission for nine residential units, as well as office and archive space.
One of its directors, Jeremy Rihoy, said they had tried to be sensitive with the new plans.
‘In our opinion the old plans were not viable, so we decided to revisit it,’ he said.
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Correct me if I am mistaken, but did not Deputy Tom Le Pelley & Deputy Gloria Dudley-Owen back a proposal for a mass burner at the North of the island. Also, I do not recall any of this group protesting about the destruction of our market or the building of the monstrosities from the bottom of St Julian’s Ave to Admiral Park or the wanton proposed vandalism of the NP site..”Not in our backyard’ one could say……..
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Do not make the same mistake as the estate behind the captain cook hotel in hauteville ,from trinity square of from the sea those particular nasty horrors look like they are sliding down the hill (would be better if they did)
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It is not their backyard Pete, it is actually mine. If you have not seen the plans for this aggressive monstrosity which will erase hundreds of years of the St Peter Port skyline in one fail swoop, then perhaps you should keep your petty political point-scoring for elsewhere? The local residents are very happy with the support on offer, maybe you could join us? I’m sure you’d not want to be seen as a vocal populist?
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Good point Bryn – I appreciate Pete Burtenshaw feels strongly about the mass burn incinerator however there’s a place to discuss that – and it’s not here.
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Having worked close to the area where the proposed monstrosity is to be I question how they are to get such a big building in so small a place. There is barely room to park 6 cars at the moment. Remember on that site was a one up one down building! how they are to get that sized building heaven knows. Have a look at the area and see what the residents are up in arms about. All support too you Bryn and your neighbours
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Cheers Mike,
If you look at the plans, it just goes up and up and guess what? Up some more. It is the only way they will profit from a postage stamp sized site. This proposed development is disgusting and it is worrying that architects and developers deem such plans worthy of submission to the Environment Dept. If they are allowed to build anything like it in such a sensitive area then i guess Environment will let anything through anywhere.
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Bryn. I havn’t looked at the plans but spent a number of years looking at the site!!!!!
One concern I would have would be for the stabilty of the houses in that area particularly 26 Cornet Street. We used to be very careful where we put filing cabinets and desks etc. due to the loading limits on the floor.
If the developers start pile driving and excavating …………
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That’s no worry Mike, apparently the developers are insured for when these listed buildings start to take a battering. It’s very comforting to know…….
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Having lived in Guernsey for 5 years and admired its beauty and in particular the area around Hautville/Cliff Street where i resided i was saddened to hear about the proposed plans for this block of flats.They would not benefit the area in any way shape or form..Heres an idea,perhaps the developers would look at the Old Quarter,where many beautiful old St Peter homes and former businesses lie empty and are crying out for renovation.This would be more beneficial for the area and the town in general.Out for a quick profit and to hell with the consequences seem to be the creedo these days.
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three words for you
Turks. And. Caicos.
any more of this and you’ll see the tanks roll in.
don’t worry. the financial backers of teh MoD have probably got a few spec purp vehicles already here and you can grin like that TL as the politicians take your land and ruin your lives.
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my god, I really have rattled your cage haven’t I Sparky? – you are even referring to me in threads that I have not posted on!
It is a shame that your prejudices mean that your reading of my other posts has caused you to have a completely misguided view of what I may or may not believe in.
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Memories seem to be in short supply .
‘they talk of this monstrosity of a so-called building .
Have they forgotten or really don’t know the history of that area.
Some years ago their was a terrible landslide, houses were wrecked. (there are photos of the incident.
Remember it could happen again, on a larger scale.
If this is passed, then the institution, for brain damaged people should be enlarged to take in those who pass such a disaster.
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This sort of development proposal really does test the patience. Stand on the Mignot Plateau and look at the featureless flat roofed, glass fronted box below the Salvation Army Citadel. Drive or walk down into Trinity Square and be appalled by the glass cage attached to the church. Why were these allowed? One can only guess! Jeremy Rihoy et al needs to realise that there are degrees of sensitivity and that he has barely scratched at the lowest level.
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Bryn, apologies for any offence caused with my comment. If you feel, my comments were misguided and unnecessary than I also apologise for this. The landscape of Gsy and the historical buildings need protecting.
I will visit the area in question and for what it’s worth, will support you all the way. I despise any form of injustice and breach of one’s rights because of greedy developers. If you want to give me a call on this matter then please feel free or e-mail lisab@cwgsy.net.
Once again, apologies for any offence caused with my original post.
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Pete B. Since you ask to be corrected, I will do so. Deputy Gloria Dudley Owen was very opposed to the mass-burn incinerator, and voted firstly for the sursis to examine the alternatives to mass-burn incineration, and then secondly to throw the Suez proposal out. She led the campaign against Lurgi, and has always opposed the mass-burn option.
Tom Le Pelley also voted for the sursis, but when that fell, felt he had no option but to vote for the incinerator…. a bad call in my judgement but not so black and white as your suggestion.
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About 20 years ago I used to live in a garden flat above the glass box by the Salvation Army Citadel to which Alex refers. The flat had a beautiful Victorian garden with a magnolia tree in the middle of it.
Some years ago the flats were developed and the garden became a carpark for the flats and I assume for the glass box as well. The magnolia tree was also felled in the development.
There seems to be a movement to destroy the old to make way for the new and the Cornet street development is the next in a line of horrendous architectural developments to blight the St Peter Port skyline.
I really hope this one can be prevented from going up.
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I wish the neighbours and deputies opposing this development the very best of luck, sadly I think they’ll need it. Time and again we see lunatic decisions by those in charge of planning, and St Peter Port has too many incongruous buildings to mention. It seems that if the landowner/developer/architect has the right connections then anything is possible.
Pete, as a St Peter Port Douzainier I hope you have some clout as to the progression of this issue. If it is unquestionably the opinion of neighbouring residents that the development should not go ahead in its current format, what is their best course of action?
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