Question:
Mike Dun: (on Facebook): There is a large tract of land at La Moye that was zoned and taken into States ownership for a Golf course back in John Rothwell's time - what is it used for now apart from the bowling? I wondered why it was not on the list of possible hospital sites.
Mike Dun: (on Facebook): There is a large tract of land at La Moye that was zoned and taken into States ownership for a Golf course back in John Rothwell's time - what is it used for now apart from the bowling? I wondered why it was not on the list of possible hospital sites.
History of Site
There were proposals put forward for the States to buy the land and develop into a golf course, but that is not how matters transpired.
At least one of the land owners, Edward Bisson, flatly refused to sell his land. Like much of the farmed land in that area, it is good for growing early crops of Jersey royals. There was something of an impasse, and considerable local opposition.
It was Deputy Mike Vibert (St Brelade No 2) who was involved in steering the land to something very different – namely a country park, part of which could still be farmed, and which was available for access by the general public to walk around.
In the proposition before the States, he submitted the idea as a project for the Millennium:
“I am increasingly aware of general concern that no major project that is likely to be ready in time for the year 2000 has been identified to be financed from the Millennium Fund.”
“I am proposing the Les Creux project be adopted as the Island’: main Millennium project and is allocated the remaining finance available in the Millennium Fund, to be developed as Jersey's Millennium Country Park to open in the year 2000.”
“The projects approved for the Millennium so far are. in the main, relatively minor, such as the 12 wayside crosses and the various bursaries and the, as yet, unidentified feature or features to commemorate one thousand years of Jersey history.”
“In conclusion. I believe Les Creux would be worthy of being regarded as one of the main Millennium projects for the Island. It complements the other main Millennium Project, a town park.”
And he stated what was also important was “the extent to which the project is associated with Jersey and/or its history - Les Creux will allow the public access to one of the most naturally beautiful areas of the Island and will preserve hedgerows and dry stone walls”
It could, he said, “be enjoyed by all Island residents and families rather than just those of a certain age or interest grouping, or those resident in one part of the Island - Les Creux meets this criteria in the same way as an Urban Park, with the added benefits of country walks and the opportunity to participate in sports and leisure activities”
And there was an added environmental benefit: “Les Creux encompasses a whole host of environmental benefits as outlined in the Les Creux Land Use Study: these include the preservation and management of natural habitats for wildlife, the extension of woodland to the benefit of the red squirrel population and to encourage environmentally sensitive agricultural management”
There were proposals put forward for the States to buy the land and develop into a golf course, but that is not how matters transpired.
At least one of the land owners, Edward Bisson, flatly refused to sell his land. Like much of the farmed land in that area, it is good for growing early crops of Jersey royals. There was something of an impasse, and considerable local opposition.
It was Deputy Mike Vibert (St Brelade No 2) who was involved in steering the land to something very different – namely a country park, part of which could still be farmed, and which was available for access by the general public to walk around.
In the proposition before the States, he submitted the idea as a project for the Millennium:
“I am increasingly aware of general concern that no major project that is likely to be ready in time for the year 2000 has been identified to be financed from the Millennium Fund.”
“I am proposing the Les Creux project be adopted as the Island’: main Millennium project and is allocated the remaining finance available in the Millennium Fund, to be developed as Jersey's Millennium Country Park to open in the year 2000.”
“The projects approved for the Millennium so far are. in the main, relatively minor, such as the 12 wayside crosses and the various bursaries and the, as yet, unidentified feature or features to commemorate one thousand years of Jersey history.”
“In conclusion. I believe Les Creux would be worthy of being regarded as one of the main Millennium projects for the Island. It complements the other main Millennium Project, a town park.”
And he stated what was also important was “the extent to which the project is associated with Jersey and/or its history - Les Creux will allow the public access to one of the most naturally beautiful areas of the Island and will preserve hedgerows and dry stone walls”
It could, he said, “be enjoyed by all Island residents and families rather than just those of a certain age or interest grouping, or those resident in one part of the Island - Les Creux meets this criteria in the same way as an Urban Park, with the added benefits of country walks and the opportunity to participate in sports and leisure activities”
And there was an added environmental benefit: “Les Creux encompasses a whole host of environmental benefits as outlined in the Les Creux Land Use Study: these include the preservation and management of natural habitats for wildlife, the extension of woodland to the benefit of the red squirrel population and to encourage environmentally sensitive agricultural management”
Current Use
Apart from bowling (and the fact it is a country park to commemorate the Millennium) we have:
Jersey Astronomy Club – not just for members but for visits by cubs, scouts, school groups on educational visit, and viewing on non-club night Mondays for any members of the public. Meets on second Monday of month at 8 pm, why not come along and see what it is about? Next presentation - Astronomy in the News. Viewing in the dome if clear skies.
http://jerseyastronomyclub.weebly.com/
Allotments – the first real allotments in Jersey which set the template for “how to do it”, and is still going strong.
Re-cycling centre – one of the largest facilities for paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, as well as the Salvation Army drop off clothes container.
Scout hut and grounds
BMX bike track
Tenant farmers on highly productive early land
Important habitat for two rare species (Agile frog and grass snake) also habitat for owls, bats and raptors of various kinds.
Tree planting project[s] - Rotary de la Manche/Trees for Life
..not to mention a variety of walks through farmland, woodland and heathland for Joe Public to enjoy.
So quite a lot apart from bowling not forgetting either that 92% of the total area is firmly green-zone, is considerably to the west of the Island (unlike Overdale or Warwick Farm), unsurprisingly it was not considered as a suitable site for the new hospital.
Apart from bowling (and the fact it is a country park to commemorate the Millennium) we have:
Jersey Astronomy Club – not just for members but for visits by cubs, scouts, school groups on educational visit, and viewing on non-club night Mondays for any members of the public. Meets on second Monday of month at 8 pm, why not come along and see what it is about? Next presentation - Astronomy in the News. Viewing in the dome if clear skies.
http://jerseyastronomyclub.weebly.com/
Allotments – the first real allotments in Jersey which set the template for “how to do it”, and is still going strong.
Re-cycling centre – one of the largest facilities for paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, as well as the Salvation Army drop off clothes container.
Scout hut and grounds
BMX bike track
Tenant farmers on highly productive early land
Important habitat for two rare species (Agile frog and grass snake) also habitat for owls, bats and raptors of various kinds.
Tree planting project[s] - Rotary de la Manche/Trees for Life
..not to mention a variety of walks through farmland, woodland and heathland for Joe Public to enjoy.
So quite a lot apart from bowling not forgetting either that 92% of the total area is firmly green-zone, is considerably to the west of the Island (unlike Overdale or Warwick Farm), unsurprisingly it was not considered as a suitable site for the new hospital.
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2 comments:
A really beautiful area and hopefully left aside it is.to walk around and enjoy nature and so mucheck it offers.....
Alluded to in your final paragraph is that Les Creux is too obviously wholly inadequate strategically for Island wide emergency vehicle access.
It would be good if you did a blog on the way some left wingers, in particular Mike Dun, seem to regard the housing 'needs' of 10,000 'unqualified' people to outweigh the needs of the environment and, in particular, the space required for the 'Jersey Cow'. Anyone who has heard Mike utterings will have heard him say or imply this.
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