Hopes park ownership issue will be sorted soon

17 hours ago

Charlie Le Noury,

Courtney Sargent,Jerseyand

George Thorpe,Channel Islands

News image — Constable of Grouville Mark Labey said the parish was in the final stages of acquiring Sandy Park

BBC A man called Mark Labey stands in a play park on a seafront. He is wearing a black coat, black jumper, white shirt and black tie. He has trimmed white hair. The park's play equipment is fenced off. The park has sand on the floor. — Constable of Grouville Mark Labey said the parish was in the final stages of acquiring Sandy Park

An apology has been issued for the "long-winded" process which has unfolded over who owns a seafront play park.

Last June, the Parish of Grouville agreed to take over Sandy Park in Gorey after the States of Jersey's Infrastructure Department said it would not renew its lease.

However, the parish has not been able to complete the acquirement of the land nearly a year later and the park's equipment is fenced off due to maintenance work taking place.

Grouville Constable Mark Labey said it was hoped a 50-year lease to hand the park over to the parish would be completed very soon.

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He said the land was currently Crown property as part of the Grouville Common and managed by the receiver general and a committee of the parish's chef tenants.

"We are in the final stages of legal debate," Labey, who was re-elected following Sunday's general election, said.

"It has been a little long-winded and I apologise to the islanders for that."

A play park on a Jersey seafront. The play equipment is fenced off. A castle can be seen in the distance. The floor of the park is covered with sand. — A recent inspection of the park highlighted "a few flaws", Mark Labey said

Labey said the parish had been paying for quarterly inspections of the park to ensure it remained safe.

He said a recent inspection had highlighted "a few flaws" including a fence that needed replacing and work being required on the park's climbing frame.

Labey added the parish wanted to make sure everyone who used the park remained safe.

"The park is likely to remain closed for a while," he said.

"We're hoping it'll be reopen for the school holidays."

Parents of children who use the park said they were disappointed by its closure.

A woman called Rebekah Key smiles while standing in a play park. She has shirt fair hair. She has large sunglasses on and a red jumper. — Rebekah Key said she hoped the park was up and running again by the summer holidays

Rebekah Key, whose family uses the park, said: "We're now in the summer term, parents are now doing more outside with their children obviously when the weather is nice and it would be nice for it to be done for the summer holidays."

Abby Osgerby, who visited the play area with her daughter Ava, said she and her family used the park "all the time" because it was a good facility.

She added: "Before we use the equipment we check it's safe.

"I think ultimately it's the parent's responsibility to check it's OK to use."

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