Grandmother helps halt controversial coastal development

Monday 12 March 2018

An 89-year-old grandmother whose family have lived near Keppel Tower for over 100 years has successfully stopped what she calls “the big boys” from “spoiling” her much-loved area after a battle spanning more than six years and two Royal Court cases.

Developers were last week refused an appeal to convert Grouville’s Elizabeth Cottage and Keppel Cottage into more than a dozen homes – right next to historic coastal fortification Keppel Martello Tower No 2.

If approved, the ‘Waves’ complex would have seen a mixture of two, three and four bedroom coastal apartments and an underground carpark built by La Grande Route des Sablons.

But those plans were thwarted following the objections of more than 20 islanders, whose efforts were spearheaded by long-term campaigner and ‘custodian’ of the area, 89-year-old Mary Herold, who lives just 50m away from Keppel Tower. Together, they claimed that the development's scale threatened the heritage of the area, and didn’t respect the tower, leading a planning inspector to rule against it. 

Pictured: The rejected 'Waves' development, as seen from the beach.

It was the developers' third attempt to build in the area in a saga spanning six-and-a-half years - Mrs Herold had already twice managed to throw out plans for a larger 17-unit build in the Royal Court.

Speaking to Express, the local grandmother, who will turn 90 in May, said that she was delighted to learn that her most recent efforts had been successful.

“From day one, objections have been that the mass and scale and density were too much – this was right at the beginning… Now it’s the same conclusion. It’s been an awful long time at my age. It’s dragged on but one’s always fought back, and with success, so one is pleased,” she commented.
 

Pictured: Mrs Herold, who recently scored her third victory against the development.

Mrs Herold said that she was grateful for the support of her family and other islanders along the way, adding: “There’s been a big enthusiasm that the little person with nothing could fight the big boys and I think that made people sit up, and I hope it has, because you can.”

Mrs Herold said that she almost felt like a guardian of the area, with her home – 19th century Seymour Cottage - having been in her family since 1912. 

“My grandpa started it all, and we’ve been here ever since. It’s a lovely area, but you’ve got to put up the weather! …But it’s beautiful. Bird watching is becoming more popular and all these walks out to the oysters – it’s becoming quite known," she commented.

Pictured: An aerial view of the Keppel Martello Tower site. (Google Maps)

She added: “I’m not against housing at all – I think young people need houses and it’s a pity they can’t afford the prices these developers ask. That’s the tragedy because this is a great area for children."

While the dispute is over for now, Mrs Herold says that she doesn’t expect this to be the end. Over the years, she has garnered a lot of planning knowledge – “the law is very interesting when you get into it, one’s read so much” – and won’t be afraid to use it again if necessary. 

“They will develop something, but it has to be reasonable. I’m all for progress, so long as it’s acceptable. And it looks to me that the island doesn’t think this one was.”

Great VICTORY for the Community, Common Sense and a Grandmother. The Independent Planning Inspector ruled against the proposed development around KEPPEL TOWER on density, mass and scale #MaryHerold #2RoyalCourtJudgements #Petition #StatesProposition #IndependentPlanninginspector

— Carolyn Labey (@CarolynLabey) March 5, 2018

Praising Mrs Herold’s victory, Grouville Deputy Carolyn Labey described the planning refusal as a “great victory for the community, common sense and a grandmother.”