Plenty of ideas put forward at drop-in on Leale’s Yard
THE BRIDGE is crying out for a community space at Leale’s Yard, islanders have told the planners at a drop-in.
Dozens popped into the Church on the Rock yesterday to put forward ideas for the derelict site, which stands behind the shops on the Bridge.
Principal forward planning officer Simone Whyte said there had been a good response and the feedback would be used to create a development framework.
That will help guide site owners the Channel Islands Co-op in how the land could be used.
‘We have been busy since 2pm when we started,’ Ms Whyte said.
‘We have had a great reaction. They are frustrated and they want to see change, as well as help with issues like traffic problems and flooding, but there have been other ideas too, like having open, public space.’
Among the people at the drop-in was Philip and Nina Elliott. The couple live in a house overlooking the site and said that, while the land might look a mess, it had actually turned into an important wildlife habitat.
‘At the moment it’s a nature reserve,’ Mr Elliott said.
‘It’s very overgrown. We are keen to have something done with it. Maybe a park.’
But they were not keen on the idea of hundreds of houses.
‘If we have more houses, there will be more cars and it’s already congested enough,’ Mrs Elliott said.
‘I think having green space would really rejuvenate the Bridge. There needs to be something that attracts people here.’
The nearest public open spaces are Vale Castle and Delancey Park.
Angela Pattimore lives nearby and agreed the area needed a focus point.
‘They need a proper community centre,’ she said.
‘As well as better facilities for traffic and parking, and shops opening up.’
A New Road resident, who asked not to be named, said it was important not to overdevelop the site.
‘Whatever they do, they have to remember there are residents – people live here and children,’ she said.
‘It’s a commercial area, but there is also residential areas. It needs an injection of life and fun. It is a community around here and we need a community hub for everybody.’
A draft development framework will now be drawn up. It is hoped further public consultations will be held on that document in a few weeks time. It will then be put together into a final development framework, which should be published in the spring.
