At Wednesday’s meeting of the Planning and Environment sub-committee, Nigel Wray was granted an 18-month licence to sell refreshments on a coastal strip between the Watersplash and Le Port on the Five Mile Road.’It’s taken 16 years,’ he said.
‘I’ve applied almost every year when I’ve been in Jersey, so it’s been quite a few.’Mr Wray said that he persisted with the support of friends and members of the public who bemoaned the lack of alternative refreshments in the area.
However, he would not divulge exactly what type of food he proposed to sell, other than to say it would be healthy and keenly priced.Mr Wray’s family have owned the strip of land since before the Occupation.
It was once occupied by a beach house owned by his grandfather, Nigel Oxenden, whose passion for surfing has been passed down to the present generation of the family.
Mr Wray’s only regret is that he cannot use his grandfather’s nickname – Oxo – as a name for his outlet.He added that as well as being of great significance to his family, the land was the site of the first surf club in Europe.
