Lack of funding sees Candie glasshouses left to rot
TWO historic glasshouses are currently being left to rot due to a shortage of funding.
The upper and lower glasshouses at Candie Gardens have been closed for more than two years due to their poor state of repair.
They are both protected monuments – a status meaning they are considered a matter of public importance.
An Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services spokesman said it was aware of the issues.
‘ACLMS is concerned about the condition of the Candie Glasshouses, which are in need of repair due to rot in the rafters and associated areas,’ he said.
‘There are considerable competing priorities for the States particularly with the additional cost pressures of Covid this year and last, as such funding is currently not available to undertake these repairs.
‘A further application for funding will be made at the very next opportunity.’
States departments are required to protect and preserve protected monuments, as far as possible.
‘However, it remains the case that this requirement has cost implications and has had to be prioritised against other important projects including the repair and maintenance of other public facilities,’ ACLMS said.
‘The anticipated cost of these repairs and the general renovations which would be intended to take place at the same time are confidential to enable a competitive tender process.’
The current protected monuments list includes standing stones, dolmens, feudal parish seats, external paving, steps, abreuveurs and fortifications.
Laws give the structures significant protection from harmful development – higher than that afforded to protected buildings.
For example, there is no exemption from requiring permission for development and there is a strong presumption against development that affects a protected monument.
