Five applications in planning backlog
Thursday 24th March 2011, 2:29PM GMT.
The Rev. David Hinchcliffe is the third Methodist superintendent minister to be faced with the problem of trying to gain planning permission for the disused Ebenezer Church. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1113774)
FIVE planning applications have spent more than six months in the system with still no decision on the horizon.
The Environment Department has defended the delay, saying that it was working hard to find a positive outcome.
The longest-standing one was for Ebenezer Church in Brock Road, St Peter Port, which was submitted 15 months ago.
The Rev. David Hinchcliffe is the third Methodist superintendent minister to face the long-running planning battle to convert the derelict church following several failed applications. The church fell into disuse in the early 1990s.
- 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
I really do feel for the owners of this grotesque building. Why on earth is it still listed? Why on earth was it listed in the first place? The only ‘positive outcome’ is that this awful edifice is razed to ground. Almost anything would be better in its place, even a multi storey car park.
Report abuse
Martino – I too feel for Rev Hinchcliffe who has been lumbered with this behemoth. I love old church buildings but sometimes the line must be drawn.
I would add though that some responsibility must be laid at the feet of those churchgoers who have insisted on living in the past.
Believe it or not but some would like Ebenezer restored and used again, despite the fact it has been unused and neglected for 20+ years. I’m afraid to say that is allowing sentimentality to get in the way of reality.
Churches like Ebenezer were great in their time but are now unfit for purpose. It would cost a fortune to repair, maintain and heat – money that the Methodist Circuit no longer has, or would (wisely) rather spend elsewhere.
The Methodist Church has great facilities such as those up at Les Camps. I hope Ebenezer gets sorted out quickly as it is in danger of becoming a monument to the folly of the local church.
Report abuse
We’re in accord again Paul. This and the other cases tell me that we need a complete review of our listed buildings list. I’m convinced that well over 50 per cent of them, including this dilapidated carbuncle, should have no protected status whatsoever.
They do seem to list things at the drop of a hat these days and I think this shows that the listing department, within Environment, should be whittled down to just one civil servant – maybe two at the most. I wonder by how much that would cut the public sector wage bill?
Report abuse
Martino
As I recall, Ebenezer was listed about 20 years ago by none other than Deputy Carol Fletcher, as she was then, as a rush job to prevent proposed plans for re-development going through
Nice one Carol!!
Report abuse
Yes pyer, and the local methodist community has been paying the price for this bad planning decision ever since, but why can’t it be put right now, or will we have to wait another 20 years until the awful thing falls down of its own accord?
Report abuse