NEW signage has been erected at the former Seaside Café at Grève de Lecq to mark the formal handover of the site to the National Trust for Jersey.
The trust became the official owner of the site, gifted by the Island following its purchase by the government last year, during a Royal Court hearing in late January.
Trust chief executive Alan Le Maistre welcomed the outcome of the legal process and has pledged to issue further details of the trust’s plans for the site this summer after thousands of Islanders took part in a consultation exercise.
He said: “The trust would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Jersey and the people of Jersey for entrusting us with the care of this important Island landmark. Having now completed our public consultation, the time is also now right to give an update on the results and our future plans.
“The trust understands the public importance and sensitivity surrounding this site, particularly relating to the car park, and we have listened carefully to what people would like to see.
“Over the next few months, we will be appointing a design team to help us create a shared vision for the site which reflects the key outcomes of the consultation, including retaining the car park and free parking, creating disabled access to the promenade, providing a family-friendly food and beverage offering and creating facilities to support marine sports.”
A total of 3,291 people took part in the public survey and after data cleaning 2,683 responses were included in the final dataset. An additional 300 people took part in a two-day “beachworks” clay-based public workshop at the former café site, with 242 people participating in interviews.
It is expected that work on the site, which was formally acquired by the government for £3.6 million last March, will commence in 2026, with detailed plans being published this summer.
Mr Le Maistre added: “Our aim will be to create a multi-purpose community hub which acts as a gateway to the north coast, supporting and promoting Jersey marine conservation efforts and the broader work of the trust.
“We hope to create a shared space that benefits many stakeholders and everyone who loves the bay.”
Ahead of the progression of its future plans, the trust has said it will continue to host a programme of events and activities similar to the programme during 2024.
This will include summer concerts, regular craft and artisan markets, art and photography exhibitions, pop-up food stalls and a mobile sauna.
Anyone interested in hosting an event or making use of the space is invited to make contact via the nationaltrust.je website.
