Griffin’s Grotto owners give up battle to remain open
Friday 13th May 2011, 11:30AM BST.
The Waterman family outside Griffin's Grotto.
THE Waterman family have given up their fight to keep Griffin’s Grotto open.
But the Environment Department, with whom they have had a lengthy battle, has expressed disappointment because it thought it had reached a workable solution.
The problem has been over the use of the building, which is zoned for light industrial use, as a gift shop. The family had a retrospective planning application refused and a subsequent appeal to an independent tribunal was dismissed.
The family’s final attempt to save their business was to manufacture items for sale on site. But none of those ideas proved acceptable, according to Troy Waterman. They included making jewellery, mugs, T-shirts and canvas prints and greetings cards which, he said, could be deemed as crafts and not light industrial production.
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States being states, it will now probably be an empty building for some time. Shame really.
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Were the storm troopers all presents all shouting
Hail to a Great Victory over honest people.
People trying to make a living instead of scrounging off the States.
I hope those responsible will get a taste of their own medicine one day.
We need the same as Libya Tunisia, and Egypt to make them understand they, that committee are there by will of the People, not as dictators.
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And you wonder why there is no motivation to build a dream and try to make some money from it, bloody faceless public servants who are accountable to themseleves only – I wonder if they go home at night and think, wow we just wrecked a good business and turned somebodys life upside down – what a good days work!
I hope you sleep well
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Mark
I’m sure this is one of the few cases that go upstairs to the politicians each year
We must remember who those politicians are this time next year
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I don’t comment often, but on this occasion I feel compelled.
I am absolutely disgusted with this whole debacle.
What has happened is that common sense in this island has been replaced by draconian laws that have no room for manoeuvre.
The buck stop with the persons that have sought to bring these laws into the island in first place without proper process of thought about those people, business and families that will be affected by them.
Who are these persons?
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My heart goes out to the Waterman family. Its hard enough these days trying to make a living and pay your way. Then some trumped up civil servant who is working for the people by the way. Comes along and says NO. Then you fight and state your case and, No, No, No. It is time for this to stop. This story really makes me angry.
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The states of Guernsey make me sick, The people of Guernsey should stand up and say why is this happening its becoming a joke.
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