Convent homes plan shocks neighbours
Wednesday 13th July 2011, 2:30PM BST.
Cordier Hill residents Melissa and Deryck Mourton say the plans came as a shock to them and fear an end to quiet evenings on their balcony, combined with noise and traffic problems. (Picture by Jess Stevenson, 1158485)
HOUSING could go up on the Cordier Hill convent site in St Peter Port after the Sisters of Mercy applied to demolish many of the buildings there in favour of new homes worth about £4m.
The convent at the south-west of the 0.2 hectare site would be kept, but offices and the Sunshine pre-school building would be demolished, making way for 10 two-bedroom houses and three two-bedroom apartments.
Sister Carmel yesterday did not want to comment on the plans until the Environment Department had made its decision and could shed no light on the reason for the large redevelopment. The Catholic Dean of Guernsey, Canon Michael Hore, would not comment either.
Meanwhile, residents were concerned about the impact more homes would have on the area.
Melissa and Deryck Mourton’s home backs on to the convent’s northern boundary. They said they had been kept in the dark about the plans.
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What a shame.Yet another case of NIMBY’ism. Be greatful you have had all those years, and space, many others can’t enjoy.
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Well said A.J.
What the Sisters of Mercy do with their property is their business, no one elses. No spite has been involved here, life moves on, and change is as good as a rest. Complacency and all the rest of it. Good luck Revered Mother Bernadette, Sister Carmel, and dear Sisters, I for one, hope that you get from this all you need and desire for the betterment and next step of your ministry in Guernsey.
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I don’t see what all the fuss is about. The Sisters were under no obligation to discuss their plans before submitting them for consideration. Now that’s been done the neighbours will have ample opportunity to raise any concerns.
It’s not like the Sisters started work on the quiet in the hope they’d get away with it. On the contrary they have acted totally appropriately – they have sought permission for a new development before starting work, something of a novelty these days. It makes a change from all these retrospective applications we hear so much about!
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I wonder how long this couple have lived at En Facade? Certainly not during the time Cordier Hill was a thriving prep school, I’ll bet. They should count themselves lucky. When the school was running it was impossible to gain entrance or exit to the road, four times a day, total chaos backing up to Victoria Avenue at most times. A few houses is not going to make much of a difference to their lifestyle.
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Tough luck but as many other posts on similar matters will confirm, the loss of a view is not going to stop any development no matter how nice or many years you have enjoyed it.
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Why is religion always about money I wonder??
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…Sister Caramel (sic) was unable to comment, but Sister Liquorice Allsorts was able to reveal that the Catholic Church was feeling the pinch and had nearly run out of all funds collected over the many centuries….
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Buffy – this article has got nothing to do with religion – it’s about property development. Yes I accept the protagonists are the Roman Catholic Church but that is irrelevant in the context of the story. In another case it might be an individual, business, charity or other organisation.
Does that mean religion doesn’t have money issues? Of course not, I’m not naive! Try to stick to the subject matter though. There will be plenty more opportunities to discuss religion on appropriate forums.
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…sorry Paul have to disagree this time…capitalism (as we know it) has a lot of basis in the Church and this story reeks of it…
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The loss of a view and amenity is a dreadful blow for any homeowner so I don’t understand some of the smug and gleeful comments here.
I am surprised the Sisters of Mercy hadn’t taken a leaf out of their own biblical texts and done the neighbourly thing of at least forewarning or consulting with their neighbours about the application before it was submitted.
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Ah well, it had to happen at some point Vic!
Still, Brother Wine Gum tells me that if anything the excesses of capitalism are a result of people (sadly often including us Christians) abandoning the teachings of Jesus, not following them.
St Marcouf – there was certainly no “smug and gleeful” intent from this quarter, merely an acknowledgement that the Sisters had followed the correct legal procedures – a welcome change from the “I’ll build it and apply later” developments we hear so much about.
It’s easy to micro-analyse people’s actions with the benefit of hindsight – and yes there is an argument that speaking to the neighbours would have at the very least generated a better entente cordiale.
They certainly haven’t ridden roughshod over anyone or acted with deliberate malice though. On the contrary, they have followed the accepted procedures for new developments which allows ample opportunity for the neighbours (and general public) to raise objections if they so wish. As long as the Environment Department act with equity – something that should be outside of the control of both church and neighbours – then that should be sufficient for all.
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What if it was the otherway round and a developer was building housing. I bet you wouldn’t be quite so understanding then.
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sisters of mercy want to build a bauhouse?
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Sid
You are being deliberately antagonistic and, if I may say so, contributing to the creation of a conspiracy where there is none.
This isn’t a Dan Brown novel, it doesn’t (and shouldn’t) make one iota of difference who is submitting the plans – that was my point a couple of posts ago. This is not about religion, it’s about a housing development and no special favours should be granted because it’s a church that’s applied.
I simply don’t see what the problem is with them submitting plans to build on their site. Naturally, any concerns raised by the neighbours should be taken into account and given full and impartial consideration by the Environment Department.
Providing all is done impartially, if after due consideration the plans are found to be detrimental to the local environment they should be rejected – or provision made to accommodate the concerns of the neighbours. It really is as simple as that.
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Hello again Paul…I do not believe abandonment of Jesus/church was the source…so here beginith the lesson.
Calvanistic work ethic taught that obedience to God rewarded the individual with wealth…indeed to accumulate wealth was a sign of virtue…granted the R.C. church took a different stance, but the church itself accumulated the wealth, rather than the indivdual,who remained poor because he was bleached at ever altar stone, at every corner by the church itself.
Jesus may not have taught capitalism per se, but the currency for getting to heaven seems to have had its roots in Jesus and capitalism/money plays a huge part in that.
Here endeth the lesson,
Yours,
Father Black-Jack.
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The Sisters of Mercy are a very pleasant and nice
set of individual humanitarians who have been able
to make a valuable contribution to the quality of
life for many on Guernsey!
Although NOT a Catholic I am pleased that their
initiative will result in so Local couples being
able to be housed near to the Town Centre.
Good luck to them now and in the future.
Keep up the good work girls!
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I know exactly where you are coming from Buffy. The very same thought crossed my mind as soon as i read about this. :-)
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Father BJ
Much as I would love to discuss your points further I fear I’d be guilty of rank hypocrisy after my previous post to Buffy!
By all means drop me a line if you fancy continuing our friendly debate on the subject – the GP will have my email. If not, fare thee well….and until we meet again I’ll leave you with one brief thought – Calvin wasn’t Christ :-)
Your most humble servant
Canon Popping Candy
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I think it is absolutly wonderful that the sisters want to build a home for the needy, there are so many disabled people out there who need our help and a decent housing society to live in, this is just the ticket! Well done sisters!
For once some one is doing something right.. not just for greed and more money and trust it to be the church, the most non judgemental and giving of our race.
Congratulations to all involved and I hope your plans work out. I for one will be happy to contribute any spare time/money I have to this worthy cause.
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Totally agree with you …
Well said, perhaps they could also home some of gods animals there to? I know the GSPCA gets over run with kittens at this time of year.
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…thanks for the offer Paul, but I can see your prolific entries to this web-site, coupled with your offer to debate with me, suggests you have an enormous amount of time on your hands…my frustration could be having to respond each and every time you respond and quite honestly I do not have the time or the wherewithal…anyway I feel all exhausted out debating with Christians and as you yourself would no doubt admit, two extreme opposites are never going to concede…but maybe one day when I return to Guernsey a good pint and a chinwag might be more than welcome.
Stay well,
Vic.
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Ouch! Touché, Vic old chap…but you’re right – I am a sucker for a debate and I probably spend far too much time on here.
Look forward to a pint one day though…. ;-)
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Unfortunately, it won’t be a pint of Old Rational rather a gallon of Old Peculiar methinks.
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Bryn – I find a cocktail of Old Rational and Old Peculiar far more enticing….but each to their own taste. ;-)
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@Mariess
If they are building Bauhouses, I want one! The Bauhause design concept is second to none; do you have any clout to get me on the list? As a blatant bribe, I would give you a mention in my prayers, when I remember to say one, although have to say these currently run along the lines of, please don’t let M&S have run out winegums or caramels.
Amen
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Now now Paul, we all know even a half of the Rational would render you drunk and that some things just don’t mix!
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