Flat plan for parish hall rejected by locals

People have voted against plans to convert a Jersey parish hall's loft into a flat.

Constable Mike Jackson asked residents during a parish assembly on Tuesday to consider plans to renovate St Brelade Parish Hall on La Neuve Route.

The plans included turning the attic into a one-bedroom flat and replacing the building's roof.

Mr Jackson said residents voted in favour of the roof and repaint work, but went against the flat conversion proposal.

He said a repaint of the building's exterior, which was two-years overdue, will take place at the same time as the roof work.

Mr Jackson said the flat conversion was set to cost about £300,000 and parishioners voted against it as the cost was "terribly expensive".

"We don't have a lot of money in the parish, despite being a large parish, we don't have surplus funds," he said.

He said it was proposed the work would be funded from a residue from a first-time buyer housing fund but "the assembly felt that wasn't appropriate".

Last month questions were raised over the refurbishment plans for the hall, which had an overall estimated cost of £750,000.

Deputy Montfort Tadier said he thought the parish of St Brelade should consider other ways of solving the area's "housing problem".

Mr Jackson said the plans had received a "mixed reaction" when they were discussed at an earlier meeting with locals.

He said work on the roof will be starting soon.

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