Residents upset as Summerfield Road loses cobbles
Saturday 20th November 2010, 2:29PM GMT.
Public Services has uncovered and removed the cobbles at Route Summerfield and has sent them to the Longue Hougue tip as cleaning them up would have been too costly. (1054877)
RESIDENTS of Route Summerfield say granite cobbles under the Vale road should have been left where they were.
Public Services dug up the dressed stones while completing resurfacing works and dumped them at Longue Hougue for land reclamation.
But those who live in the area said they were sad to see ‘a part of the island’ being removed.
Yvonne Carter, 70, who lives along the road, remembered seeing the cobbles when she was a little girl.
‘I think they should have kept them under there because they are a part of Guernsey,’ she said.
- Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
Once again the States Works who advocate to look after Guernsey have distroyed again part of Guernsey’s heritage by removing the cobbles as they have done in St Andrews.
The States Works should by privatised then perhaps they can held to account for their actions
Report abuse
This is a shame, lets hope now that they have been dug up someone goes and rescues all these beautiful cobbles and makes good use of them.
Report abuse
Such a shame, cobbles don’t need to be resurfaced, you’d think the States Workers would know that… well looks like they don’t.
Report abuse
is this worth a news story?
is this really all that we in Guernsey have got to worry about?
if it is then why dont we stop and pause and be grateful for everything that we benefit from which too often we take for granted?
this is a sad story
Report abuse
This should have been brought to the attention of the public before anything was done. total lack of respect for the past.
Report abuse
Perhaps they need some more heritage Cr** to store
Report abuse
…They WERE covered up by tarmac for decades. Not exactly a great loss. More importantly, cobbles are an absolute b**** to drive/brake on when wet, and with all the kids living along that road it’s just not safe to ‘restore’ that road to such a slippery surface.
Report abuse
Only one thing to say really …..
Cobblers!
Report abuse
They are worth a small fortune & are in very short supply. I find it very strange why they were dumped when they are in demand by most stone masons.
Report abuse
I agree withh DD the cobbles were covered up so where’s the problem this is the 21st century we definately do not want to go back to cobbled streets, ok for horses to grip on but not motor vehicles. I’ve ridden on cobbles not very pleasant
Report abuse
Don’t panic citizens – our beloved cobbles are still a “part of the island” – except instead of being covered by tarmac where nobody could see them anyway they’re being used for land reclamation.
Phew – for a moment there I thought we were in real trouble.
Report abuse
I dont believe for single second that they were “dumped”.
Report abuse
Whilst we’re on the subject where did the old horse trough from Northside end up?
Report abuse
Maybe we should be looking at the fact that they were tarmaced over in the first place!
If blame is to be put on someone or some dept, it should be to the ones who allowed them to be covered over in the first place, should not they have been dug up and removed/stored in the first place?
Report abuse
Its another guernsey shambles,what a disgrace,no wonder people are leaving the island in their droves.
Report abuse
Each cobble could have been auctioned off and the money gone towards Bowel Cancer Screening.
Report abuse
Ray – it’s in my garden
Cheers
Ernie
Report abuse
@ P B Falla what a very silly thing to write people are leaving the Island because they are digging cobbles dont be daft.
Report abuse
Absolutely staggared by some of these comments! Did you not actually READ the article?
The reason and fate was clearly explained and logical. The value was taken care of and the issue of supply.
In a sense, I agree that the point shoudl have been made when it was first covered over (where was the lady then?!). However, why on earth are we in Guernsey always on about blame?!?
Who to blame? We should blame abc! Heads should roll!
What nonsense. Instead of trying to find who screwed up, why not find out what screwed up and why, then fix it!
I despair of Guernsey people sometimes I really do!
Report abuse
And yes, I know when the next boat is blah blah blah. As a person whose geneology is firmly local, I think I’ll stay. Maybe incessant “weren’t like this in my day” whingers should head off and find some backward thinking place where it could be their day once again!
Report abuse
GO BILLY!!
Report abuse
Re John
The island is in freefall,i have facts people are leaving in their droves over such issues,how would you like your cobbled street over turned,how many people do you know that are leving the islands?
Lets be a honest john in your replies or you maybe getting a dear john letter
Report abuse
P B Falla – I’m with Billythefish on this one. Anyone who decides to leave the island because a few cobbles have been removed can go as far as I’m concerned. We’ve got enough trouble getting things done as it is without being held back by small minded individuals who still want to live in the 19th century.
I’m all for keeping our local culture but some degree of modernisation is normal in any civilised country. We won’t always get it right, but we should at least try to ensure we provide the best quality of life for our population.
Report abuse
P B, if people are leaving over something as trivial as already covered over cobbles no-ones seen or complained about for 20 years or more, then the island is better off without them!
Report abuse
Please can I have them. I can clean them up and pay my drive. Hope this helps!
Report abuse
People leaving over cobbled streets and destruction of guernsey ‘heritage’. Seriously what reality do you people live in?
Report abuse
I don’t see what harm it would have done to leave the cobbles. I’m sure they were perfectly safe to walk or drive on at a sensible speed. What is the speed limit there anyway, 25mph?
Report abuse
Beanjar
They are no longer safe, by modern standards of grip level tests, or pedestrian friendly.
Hard braking on wet cobbles is very dangerous. ABS can treat the surface like ice & make stopping distances greater than they need to be.
They are lethal for motorcycles too.
I’m sure tens of thousands of pounds were dumped. If they actually were that is.
Who’s bright idea was it to throw history & good money away?
Report abuse
Wow, calm down PB Falla. Remember this is all on the internet, anyone can read the stuff you write. It’s embarrassing. I have a hard enough time convincing people from the UK that Guernsey isn’t an island version of Royston Vasey.
Report abuse