Church plans ‘pew-pewed’ by heritage campaigners

Saturday 19 August 2017

The row over plans to build an external extension to St Lawrence’s Parish Church to provide disabled access and toilet facilities has intensified.

Despite the Parish Rector having approved planning permission to build an external extension to the church, campaigners ‘Save Jersey’s Heritage’ have submitted an alternative proposal to the Planning Department.

The action group, who object to the building of an external extension onto the 12^th century building, describe their alternative proposal as “more sympathetic and less costly”.

Even though the Parish Rector, Reverend Phil Warren, and Constable of St Lawrence, Deidre Mezbourian, have refused to sign the campaign group’s alternative plans, Save Jersey’s Heritage submitted their application to Planning Minister, Deputy Steve Luce, with an accompanying letter asking him to override the previously approved application as the issue is "a matter of public interest".

Save Jersey’s Heritage have submitted an application which suggests installing a ramp at the main entrance to provide wheelchair access and providing a toilet and kitchen facilities inside the church at the back of the north aisle instead of constructing an external extension.

In their letter to Deputy Luce which accompanies their application, President of Save Jersey’s Heritage, Marcus Binney, writes: “Article 9 (4) of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 enables you to accept an application for consideration, without the certification of all the owners, if you are satisfied that to do so would be in the public interest. We note that you used these powers to allow consideration of plans for the new General Hospital despite three of the affected landowners refusing to sign the application.”

Marcus Binney, President of Save Jersey’s Heritage, commented: “We fully accept the need to upgrade St Lawrence Parish Church with a modern toilet facility, and that disabled access to both the toilet and the church is a requirement. Our alternative proposal achieves these objectives without the need for any changes to the exterior of the building, thereby preserving the external fabric of a Norman church that has existed since 1200.

“What is at stake is the treatment of one of the most important and prominent parish churches in Jersey. We firmly believe that Islanders – both those who live in our parish and those who visit – will also oppose this proposal once they know that a better, less costly, more pragmatic alternative is on the table. All we ask is that the Planning Department gives our proposal proper consideration on its merits.”

Constable Mezbourian, who did not sign off on the alternative application submitted by Save Jersey’s Heritage, said: “Notwithstanding that Save Jersey’s Heritage have chosen to approach the Planning Minister regarding a new planning application, an approved planning application is in place and the Parish authorities have followed due process. 

“At the moment, therefore, we await the decision from the Planning Minister as to whether or not he will permit consideration of the planning application submitted by Save Jersey’s Heritage.”