New housing plans to curry favour with upset neighbours

Tuesday 09 October 2018

The owners of a former curry house - which caused a stink with neighbours over its odours, noises and anti-social clientele - are planning to turn it into housing, around a decade after originally being asked to.

If approved by Planning officials, the former site of the Taste of India and Bay Leaf restaurants in First Tower will be converted into two one-bedroom homes in a move that could finally douse over 10 years of fiery debate over the premises.

Tensions began in 2000 when the St. Helier property – known as Brixton House – changed from an antiques and pet shop to an Indian restaurant. 

The result, according to nearby residents, was a subsequent nine years of parking problems, outdoor rubbish, disturbance from “anti-social” customers, and noise and smells from the extractor fan infiltrating their homes. 

Pictured: Brixton House, which could be developed into two one-bedroom properties.

Relief came when Taste of India ceased trading, but this was short-lived. Another Indian restaurant, the Bay Leaf, opened in the same spot in 2010.

The ongoing and public dispute between parishioners and the restaurant operators became increasingly tense over the years. At the height of the row, former Senator Ted Vibert, who remains an active member of the First Tower Community Association today, even alleged he had been assaulted by an opponent.

Another peak in the conflict saw the Parish of St. Helier offer to step in and help with an application to convert the property back into residential use. 

Now, nearly 10 years later, that change has finally been put forward and is to considered by the Planning Department.

Pictured: First Tower Community Association campaigner Ted Vibert, a former Senator involved in the dispute at the time.

A letter accompanying the application from Alan Pickup of Arkitecture Ltd on behalf of the owners read: “There has been a well-documented history of conflict between local residents/Parish of St. Helier and the tenants… that have occupied the premises.” 

It continued: “The property has now been left unoccupied for many months and the owners have no wish to waste time, money and heartache, trying to find new tenants to lease the property as a restaurant or shop when neither are a viable proposition.

“I trust you will agree that the obvious common-sense option is to convert the premises back to residential and I am sure the local residents and Parish of St. Helier will offer their wholehearted support.”