Following a recent decision by the Environment Minister to reject calls from Save Jersey’s Heritage for alternative proposals to be considered for the project, campaigners wrote to Constable Deidre Mezbourian asking her to convene a parish assembly so that parishioners could consider rescinding a decision taken in July 2015 to contribute £80,000 towards the works.
One of the ten parishioners behind the letter was Cynthia Rumboll.
‘This iconic building has a special place in the hearts of many, many parishioners, who will be both appalled and saddened by the approved extension,’ she said. ‘We need to do better, and allow all parishioners the opportunity to consider an acceptable alternative.’
The disputed scheme – to build an extension to the north of the 800-year-old building to create a toilet and enable disabled access – received Planning approval in 2016. It also has the backing of the congregation and the Anglican Church in Jersey. A building firm has been contracted to start work at the beginning of 2018.
Save Jersey’s Heritage appealed unsuccessfully to Environment Minister Steve Luce, calling on the minister to intervene and reconsider the group’s proposals, which it says are less harmful for the historic fabric of the church.
The request, signed by ten parishioners and delivered by hand to Mrs Mezbourian last week, requires her, under the 1804 Parish Assembly Law, to convene an assembly within 15 days.
‘I received the request and reviewed it,’ Mrs Mezbourian said. ‘I gave it due consideration and deliberation. I also took legal advice upon it and concluded, based on that advice, they were not matters on which I could call an assembly.’
The chairman of Save Jersey’s Heritage, Marcus Binney, says the group is now considering its next move.
‘We are taking further advice as the signatories feel it is an issue in the parish which many people are concerned about,’ he said. ‘We want an assembly to be held to discuss it and we are discussing what our next step should be.’
