A BACKBENCHER is calling for land at Grève de Lecq to remain in public ownership forever, if it is bought and given to the National Trust for Jersey.
The States Assembly is set to debate a proposition next week lodged by Deputy Lyndon Farnham – who was subsequently elected Chief Minister – regarding the purchase of the Seaside Café site for £3.6 million.
Now, Deputy Lucy Stephenson, who represents the same electoral district – St Ouen, St Peter and St Mary – as the Chief Minister has lodged an amendment to his plan.
Deputy Stephenson has proposed an additional clause stipulating that the gift of the land to the National Trust for Jersey be subject to a condition that the area must be returned to public ownership should the trust decide in the future that it no longer wishes to own the site.
In a short report accompanying her amendment, Deputy Stephenson stated: “This is a simple amendment which seeks to strengthen the main proposition by responding to a concern raised by members of the public that [the site] could potentially be sold off for profit in future without the public having any say in the matter.
“The amendment would ensure that if the proposition is approved and the purchase goes ahead, a condition would be included… requiring that the trust return the site to public ownership if it no longer has a use for it.”
The trust had stated that it was content with the condition, Deputy Stephenson added.
The matter is due to be debated by States Members when the Assembly sits on 6 February, although it has yet to be confirmed which items of business, if any, may be rescheduled as a result of the recent change of government and election of a new Council of Ministers.
