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Smaller than Portelet but no less of a disaster
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From Baz Wheeler.
I READ with interest all the comments regarding the Portelet development in your centre page spread (19 April).
The most common criticism is that the development is too big and an eyesore on the coast, added to the expectancy of local Jersey pink granite being included to help camouflage and promote an ‘in keeping with surroundings’ mentality.
While I will keep my personal views of this development to myself, as I have not personally seen these crème de la crème of buildings in this little visited part of the Island, I have to write and tell of my sadness and disgust towards a new building on our coastline which is viewed daily by thousands of commuters and the few tourists we have.
I refer to the small control office for the Goose Green pumping station, currently being constructed in the seaside car park, just before the Beaumont filter in turn.
Seven years ago I was pers onally involved in the restoration of the dilapidated Fisherman’s Cottage which stands to the east of this car park.
The owners, restoration company and historic planners went to great lengths and expense to restore this building, creating a glazed link (sunroom) overlooking the sea with hand rolled glass and shaped window frames to replicate the railway carriages that once filed past.
The proud owners were rewarded for all their hard work and dedication by receiving a top award at the Architectural Design Awards, the plaque of which is proudly displayed on their exterior seaside wall.
Tonight as I took a sunshine stroll towards town along the prom with my wife, I took a sharp intake of breath. The view of this lovely restored building has been obscured by something resembling a tourist attraction toilet block.
Yes, it ticks the boxes of the folk complaining about Portelet:
It is small.
It is faced in granite.
It has a purpose, to help the working families (La Providence residents).
However, this small building, whilst being faced in Jersey grey granite, has an English brick door surround and very expensive and fine dressed,
imported granite quoins at corners and around windows.
I walked down onto the beach and, looking back, I asked my wife to show me the other buildings on the landscape which had these features. She couldn’t. What on earth were the Architects and builders thinking? You cannot blame Dandara for this
carbuncle.
It beggars belief that any Architect designing a building, no matter how small, would not take into consideration a property less than a metre away and adopt its design.
This control room could have looked like a shed or out-house for the building or even a couple of Victorian changing huts. (At least these would have been regularly photographed.)
Well, now we have another ugly building on the seafront, I wonder how long before somebody applies to build a luxury apartment on top!
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