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Hundreds of islanders yesterday protested against the privatisation of the coastline at La Pulente as the debate around the site of the former Nude Dunes restaurant continues.
Bubbling tensions spilled out into the open on Sunday afternoon when around 300 people took to St Ouen’s Beach to oppose plans to turn the coastal site into self-catering tourist accommodation.
Pictured: James Bedding captured the 'Line in the Sand' created on Sunday afternoon with his drone.
The peaceful demonstration was reminiscent of the infamous Line in the Sand protests of 2009, during which thousands protested about overdevelopment on the coast.
The former toilet block at La Pulente was sold off by the States for around £100,000 in 2014.
It was purchased by Nude Food, run by local couple Lucy Morris and Jackson Lowe, in January 2023. After a massive redevelopment of the site, it opened as a restaurant in June 2023.
A popular nearby kiosk, The Hideout, used to be based close to the toilets but moved further down the slipway access road when work to redevelop the building began.
It was forced to close in October 2023 after a battle with the parish of St Brelade over its lease.
At the time, Constable Mike Jackson said that the Hideout was only meant to operate until the Nude Dunes restaurant opened.
The owner of the café, Karl Sutton, described his dispute with the parish as a "David and Goliath battle" which he did not want to repeat.
But less than six months after opening, Nude Food ceased trading, meaning both of its restaurants – at La Pulente and St Aubin – were forced to close.
The site went on the market for £3.5 million last year.
After being unable to find a buyer, it emerged last month that the owners had submitted plans for self-catering accommodation and attached café.
Le Rossignol Estates is now exclusively marketing the site at the significantly lower sum of £2.2 million, with the description reading: "Following the closure of 'Nude Dunes,' efforts to find a purchaser led to plans being submitted for a change of use, incorporating a two-bedroom summer let within the restaurant.
"This proposal aims to offer dual income streams, making it an attractive investment opportunity.
"It is understood that the proprietor has responsibility to open and maintain the public toilets."
The application has sparked concerns from islanders, who said that the building could ultimately become a multi-million-pound private dwelling.
Yesterday's protest was organised by St Brelade Deputy Montfort Tadier, to show support for the protection of the bay and the wider coastline from privatisation and over-development.
He said that it was "entirely inappropriate" for the restaurant to become a private dwelling, self-catering or otherwise.
Pictured: Protest organiser Monty Tadier estimated that nearly 300 had attended the event yesterday. (Dave Ferguson)
Deputy Tadier has previously cited numerous examples of the Government's decision to intervene to save stretches of the island's coast from falling into private hands, including at Plémont and Grève de Lecq.
Speaking to Express on Monday morning, he estimated that nearly 300 had attended the protest, saying that the "lovely" weather had helped.
"There were also a lot of messages of support from people who couldn't make it," he added.
"It shows the level of feeling that remains since the Line in the Sand [protest] by the National Trust for Jersey."
Deputy Tadier further explained that concerns surrounding overdevelopment on the coast had not "gone away" since that particular demonstration in 2009, adding that: "There is a strong appetite to ensure public access."
He said the next steps were for islanders who are concerned about the application to make a public comment via the Planning website and to contact their political representatives.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Le Rossignol, owner of Le Rossignol Estates, has waded into the debate via social media to reassure islanders there are "no intentions by the current owner to obtain planning permission for a house in the future".
Posting in the St Brelade Parishioners Facebook group, he said the owner was seeking the change of use as an "additional income stream".
He said: "I just want parishioners to know what's happening.
"It's an incredibly sad and desperate situation affecting all involved and my client is now trying to maximise the potential of securing a buyer by applying for a summer let as a possible additional income stream to make it more marketable to a potential new owner in the absence of any buyers to date."
Pictured: The proposed plans for the site at La Pulente. (Le Rossignol Estates)
Mr Le Rossignol added that the submitted drawings were available to view on his website and the site was "very much available for sale as a restaurant with all licenses and public toilet facilities" and "any purchaser may have their own unique ideas for the property".
He continued: "I have been following with immense interest everyone's comments this week on social media but categorically there are no intentions by the current owner to obtain planning permission for a house in the future.
"She just wants to see the end of this saga."
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