Island-wide voting has damaged interest in parish politics, says outgoing Castel Dean

David Ozanne, dean of the douzaine in Castel, is retiring at the end of the year – 31 years after he was first elected in the parish.

‘I’ve reached that age and feel that I’ve done my bit,’ he said.

‘I’ve enjoyed it but it’s time to hand it over to the younger generation.’

Mr Ozanne’s term of office has seen the demise of the douzaine representative from the States and then the loss of parish deputies. He said that this was much missed across parish politics.

‘Definitely yes. You felt that you had a chance to have some influence.’

One of the most major incidents in parish politics over Mr Ozanne’s time in office was a heated dispute over the ownership of a car park at Cobo, which took up considerable time over many years and ended up in court.

‘You never know what you might get in parish life,' he said.

‘But that needed to be sorted and I’m just glad that it has been.’

He was also proud of the extension to the douzaine room at Les Beaucamps and how well used the facility now was.

Vice-dean Mark Dorey said that Mr Ozanne’s ‘wise words and commitment to improving the parish’ would be missed.

Tributes were also paid to retiring douzeniers Rhiannon Cook, who had served the parish since 2008, and Nigel Acton, who was first elected in 2013.

They were replaced by Karen Horsey and Steven Page. A third nominee has been found for the vacant seat, but that election was unable to go ahead for procedural reasons.

Helen Ogier was returned to the Castel Primary School Committee.