States Vote To Buy Greve De Lecq Café

The government will begin negotiations to buy the former Seaside Cafe at Grève De Lecq.

States Members voted in favour of Deputy Lyndon Farnham's proposal (32 for, 10 against and 1 abstention).

The deputy, who represents St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter  - asked that the States instruct the Treasury Minister to negotiate a price for the cafe and car park in the popular bay, to protect public use of the site.

It was sold by the previous owners in 2020 and developers got planning permission in January 2022 to create a four-bedroom luxury private home and 100-seater eatery.

Plans for the site were approved in January 2022. Picture Credit: MSPlanning

It is for sale for offers over £5 million with the planning permission, or over £11 million for the completed development.

Deputy Lucy Stephenson, who amended the proposition to ensure any future use has an ‘environmental, cultural and social benefit’ to the public, says there have already been so many ideas about how to use the site, including the car park.

"There is so much potential with this site and potential which could have social, cultural and environmental value for our island.

As I say, this is about more than just about a cafe and a car park next to a beautiful sandy bay. Or it could be at least..."

Deputy Stephenson also said there should be a mechanism for the government to consider acquiring other similar sites before they go on the open market,

Constable of St Clement Marcus Troy also spoke in support of the public purchase of the land;

"We don't have these opportunities very often and I think it is incumbent on us to protect our small island, which is only nine by five, for eternity - and this is the situation we are in.

We have an opportunity now to  secure this area, which is a beautiful area, for eternity."

How sad to see this once thriving hub of Greve de Lecq lying empty and derelict. It would be such a shame to see a private residence created here. The States really should acquire this property and restore a sustainable thriving business and car park to protect public access to… pic.twitter.com/ohmC77242g

— Dep. Lyndon Farnham (@lyndonfarnham) June 23, 2023

Deputy Farnham wants the States to buy it and restore it to a thriving business and car park.

However, not all members were so pleased with the proposition.

Deputy Mary Le Hegarat voted against it.

"I don't want this government buying more property that we're going to do nothing with because.. we've not done nothing with anything else, so I'm not confident we'll do something with this.

We have got so many sites across the island that we do absolutely nothing with.  To ask the public of Jersey to spend another £5+ million I think is actually really quite naughty of us when we haven't actually got a proper plan."

The National Trust for Jersey had spoken in support of the government buying the site saying it was 'absolutely crucial it is seen as a long-term investment:

"Undoubtedly Jersey’s coastline is one of our most important assets and it is widely appreciated and enjoyed by Islanders and visitors alike. However, such assets require investment and management if they are to be secure and grow in value. "