Uncertain future for Jersey's Grouville playground

People living in Grouville are being encouraged to support a campaign to save a popular play area next to Long Beach car park.

Constable Mark Labey said he wanted the parish to take over its management and maintenance as the States' Infrastructure Department is not renewing its lease when it expires on 24 June.

Some residents living next to the park want it moved elsewhere, saying they had noise and costs concerns.

Grouville resident Kat de La Mare said parents came from around Jersey to visit the park because of a lack of facilities in the east. She also said she wanted ratepayers to back plans for a takeover at a public meeting on Thursday.

Mary Young has been living by the play area since 2009.

She said there were no problems before the Covid-19 pandemic but, since then, more people have been enjoying it.

She said "the noise has just become horrendous" and the building of two apartment blocks either side of her had not helped.

She said: "The noise funnels up. It acts a bit like St Paul's Cathedral".

She said residents enjoyed the toddlers playing there during the day, but it got noisier after school, when older children came to the area and teenagers sometimes gathered there in the evening until 22:00.

She also said it cost a lot of money to maintain and ratepayers would probably have to pay for it.

If the parish did take over the park's lease, Ms Young said she will probably take a case to environmental health leaders if the play area did not move because of the noise pollution.

One of the parents who uses the park, Charlotte Catallo, said she was really upset at the thought of it closing.

Sher said: "We use this park all the time. I particularly love it in the winter.

"It really gives a lift to my soul and I'm sat here with the kids looking out to the sea and the castle. I feel so grateful to live on Jersey".

Another resident would love the play area to stay where it is.

Peter Laffoley said his grandchildren play there and "it's essential it's maintained; whether it's by the parish or the states is irrelevant".

Kat De La Mare started a Facebook group alerting supporters of the park to the upcoming meeting.

She said: "Its the most beautiful park on the island... I get really emotional about this park.

"I've been bringing my children since they were babies and, whenever I'm here, I just take a moment of gratitude for such a beautiful space."

In a blog post on the Grouville parish website earlier this month, Labey said all politicians in the local area had agreed that the parish should look to take over the running of the park.

He wrote: "We have gathered all the cost implications together and will make those public soon".

"Other pin Jersey maintain the play areas within their borders, especially Elephant Park in St Brelade, so we feel that this is the way forward".

Thursday's meeting takes place at Grouville Parish Hall at 19:00 BST.