Objections overruled for Little Chapel work
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a lych gate, raised walkway and information gazebo at the Little Chapel were approved at a lengthy open planning meeting yesterday.
It had taken nine months, two revisions and a battle against dozens of objections before the plans finally went before the Development & Planning Authority political board yesterday. There were 16 people who made speeches to the board objecting to the revised scheme.
But after four-and-a-half hours of discussion, the DPA approved the plans unanimously.
Little Chapel Foundation chairman John Silvester said he was pleased to see the plans passed finally.
‘This is a sensitive site and we understand people’s concerns,’ he said, in response to the continued objections.
‘We just want to be able to move forward and be able to produce a gem for the island.’
The foundation will now need to raise money to cover the work. Mr Silvester said they needed to get quotes to work out exactly how much they needed.
Under this approval, the plans for a toilet block have been omitted over concerns it could damage a sycamore tree.
Many of the objectors applauded the foundation for its work so far, but many also raised concerns that doing more would be over-development. There were also worries that the work would disturb one of the roosting sites for the rare grey long-eared bat.
Several deputies made representations.
Deputy Peter Roffey said the site was a Guernsey icon, but he was concerned about the installation of the lych gate and said that doing any work on the site was always going to be a delicate balance.
‘I think it would be a disaster to lose that sense of informality,’ he said.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, on behalf of States disability champion Deputy Sarah Hansmann Rouxel, said the work would make the site accessible to more people.
The parish has been neutral on the application, with constable Martin Thwaite saying it was more concerned about traffic problems caused by coaches parking in the road.
A number of tour guides objected to the plans, with concerns raised that installing the lych gate was a step towards charging for access – something that was rejected by Mr Silvester.
Martyn Guille, from the silversmiths and engravers that neighbours the chapel, said the plans were a vanity project and went too far. He also highlighted that he was in the process of building toilets on his site, meaning creating a chapel toilet block was a waste of time.
‘Keep the site as it is and please work with me,’ he said to the foundation in his representation to planners.
Others queried why an interpretation centre was needed.
Planning director Jim Rowles did note that the building was not protected at the moment and none of the trees have protection orders. But he said the planners had taken into account the sensitive nature of the building and they were looking to list the site once this work was carried out.
The meeting at Beau Sejour was one of the longest open planning meetings that has taken place. It was also the last for the current political board, led by Deputy Dawn Tindall. All five members were present.
