Rob’s hedge stall must come off the wall after 15 years
Tuesday 16th February 2010, 2:29PM GMT.
Robert Staples with the hedge veg stall that had to come off the sea wall and the notice telling him to contact the Environment Department. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0916880)
For 15 years Mr Staples, 56, has kept the veg stall on the sea wall opposite his house at L’Eree – he has sold vegetables at the roadside for more than 30 years.
The outlet was originally outside his home, but he moved it after a neighbour complained that it obstructed his view as he emerged from his driveway.
‘The other thing was, we don’t get a lot of things pinched off the wall because the box faces all the windows of the house,’ said the landscape gardener.
‘If somebody stops, I can see their registration. I’ve had no complaints since it’s been on the wall.’
Mr Staples said he was shocked when he returned from ormering to find the box had moved.
‘It had been taken off the wall and put in my garden,’ he said. ‘It had an Environment notice put on the side of the box, but it doesn’t look to be an official one. It looks like a photocopy.’
Environment was unable to comment before going to press but said that it would do so within 24 hours.
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I have visited this stall on many occasions & I have to say…
This is by far, the most pathetic thing I have ever heard in my life… The guy is doing no harm at all by having his stall on the sea wall & he has been doing it for 15 years…
This is the red tape brigade gone mad on a power trip…
Hedge Veg is one of the very few Guernsey traditions laft… & our own States are trying to steal that from us as well…
Environment Dept – hang your heads in shame – you are not worthy to serve us Guerns….
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What harm is it been doing for 15 years and why take it away now
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Words fail me. Well almost.
I can’t help wondering whether these Environment Department people were “local”
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I agree it might seem mean but if we all decided to put our hedge veg boxes on the sea walls there would be traffic chaos – I think he’s been lucky there hasn’t been an accident so far. Hedge veg boxes are great in lanes but not on the coast road, especially in summer. Traffic backs up in both directions while people are buying from him . I agree, this is a hedge veg box and part of our island tradition but what if people start selling CDs, books, toys, packets of toilet roll, or anything else that takes their fancy on the sea walls? Would we feel differently about that? Also, presumably it’s not happened in 15 years but who would be responsible if someone pushed that box off the wall and it hit someone on the beach below?
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Perhaps if the gentleman had thought ahead and employed a well-connected architect at great expense, and decided on a design ten times the size, involving steel, concrete and LOTS of glass, the Environment department wouldn’t have objected so vehemently..?
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Yes it might sound petty to some, But just because he has been doing it for 15 years does not make it leagle to do so. 15 years ago he should have asked the States if he could do it. I wonder why he did not ? maybe he knew what the answer would be.
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But Scarlett, surely the hedge veg box already has a large open aspect, a flat roof and wood cladding? Well-connected architects have nothing else to offer!!
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ah yes, of course, Student Bob!
Apologies, I failed to notice it’s spooky resemblance to that wood clad German bunker near the cliffs at Corbiere…which makes it modern, which of course, makes it ok…
why on earth hasn’t this fabulous structure been nominated for an award..?!
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I think all stalls should require permission. Some are a nuisance and just plain dangerous in location.
I have had a few near misses due to Mrs Smith pulling up to buy spuds. Parking three feet away from the stall so that her vehicle shields her from danger.
Congestion builds up & people take risks to overtake in places that were not designed for this purpose.
I have no problem with the produce itself just some of the locations. Sensible criteria should be drafted so that every ones health & safety is taken into consideration.
Many of these stalls are quite lucrative tax free enterprises for the holders so yeah regulate them for the sake of all.
& before the jobs worth try shooting me down over my opinions there is farmers markets where all surplus produce can be offloaded safely.
I know of a good few of these stalls that don’t even trade in locally grown produce at all. They are purely profit driven.
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Why is not more commonsense applied to this forum? There is another set of grumbles on this subject already….
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