Constable resists coastal campers’ reconciliation attempts

Thursday 07 March 2019

A coastal camper, who met the future mother of his child at Le Port, has launched a "diplomatic" group bid to keep the "special" area free for all after restrictive parking rules were imposed - including holding a public meeting and installing a portaloo.

But the Constable of St. Peter, Richard Vibert, says he won't negotiate about an "illegal activity".

The coastal campers' renewed bid to protect their beloved beach zone comes after it was announced last week that vehicles would only be allowed to stay at Le Port for up to 12 hours in any 24-hour period following what the Constable described as a lack of cooperation after a number of complaints.

Pictured: Campers were upset to learn of the parking restrictions being imposed in their unique area.

While camping or sleeping in a vehicle parked on public land is illegal in the island, people have been camping at Le Port for nearly five years, since the Parish of St. Peter agreed to make concessions in 2014.

The group of regular Le Port users was “shocked” and “outraged” to see the restrictions being put in place, especially as they say they only found out about them through news reports.

Regular camper Paul Hymas, who started a petition last summer to allow islanders to camp in their vehicle in designated areas around the island for up to 48 hours, said there had been no discussion with the Constable beforehand. 

The campers have since met twice to discuss the best way forward and have decided to take a “diplomatic approach”. 

Pictured: The campers have created a support group for Le Port. (Milly Atkinson)

One of their main goals is to meet with the Constable “to discuss differences and find a way to move forward, without those restrictions that the majority of people, not just campers, are against", as Paul Hymas explained.

However, they say that all their requests for public or private meetings since the announcement have been declined. The campers have therefore set up a Facebook group, which they will use to campaign for a public meeting.

“We want to have a discussion, rather than try and stop what is happening,” Paul said.

“At the moment, there is no discussion. We are talking to each other through the media when a lot of the problems could be solved if he spoke to us. We want [the Constable] to come down and have a meeting with us. We were expecting from him, but nothing came. He just refuses to acknowledge us.”

Pictured: The campers want to have a discussion with St. Peter's Constable, Richard Vibert.

Although it was agreed in 2014 that the group of campers would “police themselves”, Paul says they don’t feel comfortable going to the Constable with any issues they may encounter, over fears they might be used against them in the future. 

“It would be nice if we had a constable we could work with, rather than against him,” Paul added. “We want to be friends with the Constable, but it feels like he doesn’t like us. A lot of this would have been saved if he had spoken to us on a regular basis. The only time he came down, he stuck leaflets on the vans without speaking to anyone.”

Contacted by Express, Mr Vibert explained he didn’t wish to have a public meeting about what is effectively an “illegal activity”.

He commented: “To be honest, the fact is that parking regulations have been brought in and they are going to remain. It is illegal to sleep in a vehicle overnight, it has always been. We cannot re-discuss a way forward on something that is illegal. None of the other parishes allow it.”

Pictured: Granite blocks have also been put in place at Le Port to restrict the number of vehicles able to access the area.

He also explained that the decision to restrict access to Le Port had been taken by the Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Kevin Lewis, and that the area belongs to the government, meaning he has no power to change the way things are.

Paul says the group recognises some of the points Constable Vibert has made to explain the decision. They admit parts of the Sand Dunes have sometimes been used as toilets and have therefore agreed to pay for a portaloo to be installed throughout the summer. 

Paul says a lot of people “really appreciate going to Le Port” and are willing to make things work. He explained that a number of people who spend time at Le Port do not have access to an outside area at home.

“They go and spend time there because they feel safe, their children are safe. They play outside all day long rather than being inside watching TV,” Paul explained. “We fear that if it’s lost, it will be lost forever. It’s part of Jersey culture, it’s quite unique what we do there.”

Pictured: Paul met his girlfriend at Le Port and they are now expecting their first child together.

“I have a lot to thank Le Port for, so do many people,” Paul confessed. “I met my girlfriend there and we are expecting a baby boy. If it wasn’t for Le Port, we wouldn’t be expecting our first child. It means so much to a lot of people.

“We want to resolve the situation. We know and understand there are some issues, but we need the Constable to help prevent those from happening if he is willing to do so. We are honest, hard-working people and I think a lot of people know that.”

While Mr Vibert says the restrictions at Le Port are there to stay, he said he would support an island-wide scheme allowing people to camp at various locations. “The Island Plan is the place to do this,” he explained. “We need to see how the regulations at Le Port are working and maybe then (an island-wide scheme) is something we can discuss. 

“We are due a new plan in 2020, it’s not too far away. I will speak to (the Environment Minister, Deputy John Young, and the Environment Minister) to see what we can do to incorporate it in there.”