THE National Trust for Jersey is backing proposals for the government to buy an empty café and car park at Grève de Lecq for the benefit of the public.
The States Assembly will this week debate a proposal by Deputy Lyndon Farnham calling on the government to negotiate the purchase of the beachside eatery, which used to be called the Seaside Café and, before that, the Romany Café.
The café – whose large car park used to be free for visitors to the bay – has been closed since 2020 and is now fenced off.
In January 2022, its new owners obtained planning permission to redevelop the site, which would see the existing buildings demolished and replaced with a four-bedroom home and 100-seat diner. The property is currently on the market for £5 million undeveloped or £11m with the luxury home and café built.
The National Trust for Jersey has now voiced its support for Deputy Farnham’s proposition, as well as an amendment from fellow St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter Deputy Lucy Stephenson, who has asked her government to devise a policy on buying properties for sale which are in similarly prominent and sensitive locations.
In a statement, the Council of the National Trust for Jersey, said: ‘Maintaining adequate access to Grève de Lecq and ensuring such strategic sites deliver a range of benefits to our community, including cultural, environmental, social and economic, will help safeguard the enormous value of our coastal landscape for generations to come.
‘It is absolutely crucial that this is seen as a long-term investment and in this respect the trust endorses part (c) of Deputy Stephenson’s amendment, which would enable the Government of Jersey to consider acquiring similar sites when these are about to be placed on the open market.’
Chief Minister Kristina Moore and Treasury Minister Ian Gorst have said they support the principle of the proposition but would like to see it deferred while negotiations with the owner take place.
