Vandals using KE VII site as a playground, neighbour claims

Guernsey Police have reported a number of incidents of damage there in recent months, and people living nearby believe that the site of the former hospital, which was vacated in 2014, attracts groups of youths because they know it is empty.

‘They use it as a playground, which I suppose is because there is a lack of things to do,’ said one resident.

‘But how do you stop it? And how can you monitor it?’

The hospital neighbour had also experienced break-ins at his house on three separate occasions. He lost about £600 in cash, a glass door was cracked and a pillar smashed in the driveway, which cost more than £500 to repair.

‘I’ve just lost faith and have to worry about my house, especially if I’m off-island and my wife is at home,’ he said.

Other residents had experienced vandalism and damage to their property previously, but not in recent times.

‘We had one incident a couple of years ago where something went through the window and smashed it but we haven’t had any problems since then,’ said Serena Radford.

She said that a lot of the vandals from previous years had grown up and matured and were now friendly in the neighbourhood.

Jemma, who did not want to give her surname installed a gate at her nearby property initially for the safety of her children.

However she also uses it now so young people in their cars do not go down the driveway.

She said that she was aware that damage was caused in the area, and despite not experiencing any herself, wished that some individuals had more respect for other people’s property.

A States Property Unit spokesman said that damage to the site had been limited to broken windows to the building.

‘We believe that the measures taken to secure and monitor the site will shortly result in an end to the current spate of vandalism,’ he said.

He added that when the unit is notified of a break-in or damage to a window on the site, it is boarded up by a contractor to make the building secure. Staff undertake regular security checks and the police also make patrols of the area.

‘We want site used for something, but we don’t really mind what’

THE general consensus of residents on the future of the site is that they do not mind what becomes of it, however would like to see it have a purpose.

‘Anything other than what it is now would be great,’ said Serena Radford.

‘It’s not very nice to look at, things are getting a lot nicer round here now, but the hospital is still an eyesore.’

‘The easy option for the site would be housing,’ said Bob Strappini.

‘But there’s already quite a lot of traffic around here so I’m not sure how that would work.’

Policy & Resources member David Mahoney said in January that he was optimistic that a development could commence in the near future once planning permission had been secured.

However, discussions regarding its future are still in progress.

‘We are continuing to explore the most effective use of the King Edward VII Hospital site for providing additional residential care facilities with a number of parties,’ he said.

‘There are different ways that could be achieved, so we’re looking at a number of options.

‘Those ongoing discussions are commercially sensitive but when we are able to provide more details, we will do so.’