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Parishioners to decide future of Grouville's Sandy Park

A meeting in Grouville will decide the future of Sandy Park at Long Beach.

Parishioners are being urged to attend a Parish Assembly this evening (19 June) to discuss whether the parish should take over upkeep of the play area.

The government's Infrastructure department currently has the lease, but wants to give it up when it expires next week.

Grouville Constable Mark Labey says the east of the island is already lacking in play facilities.

"If it wasn't for football pitches like the Chef Tenant's we've got at Gorey, there wouldn't be many facilities at this end of the island.

"Up until the opening of the excellent play park of St Martin's Green, [Sandy Park] was the only play park on the east of the island, so we're very keen not to lose it."

A cost breakdown has estimated the annual costs of maintenance to be £3,610.

Initial refurbishments, however, are expected to set the parish back £9,150.

The Chef Tenants, who manage the play area, need someone else to take over the lease, which includes the park's maintenance and upkeep, and have offered a £15,000 donation to help with the takeover.

The current lease expires on 24 June.

Gorey Common also falls under the Chef Tenant's management, who allow it to be used for parish events including the Platinum Jubilee, Coronation and Liberation 80, in recent years.

Reaction from residents to the suggestion has been positive:

We need a park in Grouville it’s unthinkable to consider closing it.

Please don’t close this park, it truly would be shortsighted, it’s a little treasure

Please save! Don’t let another lovely children’s play area be taken!

I beg you please keep this park open. My grandchildren love it 👍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Constable Labey says he is confident parishioners will back the ideas, but understands some people are not in favour of the takeover.

"People who live close to the playground have some very serious and understandable issues that I cannot ignore as their constable, and I will not do so.

"I'm sure their voice will be heard.

"I'm hoping that all those in the hall will listen to those concerns and we can mitigate some of them."

The Parish Assembly starts at 7pm.

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