The National Trust for Jersey made an offer of £260,020 for the land between Le Braye Café and El Tico after more than 70 Islanders pledged donations over a period of ten days to an appeal to raise the money to secure the site. The land had been valued at between £200,000 and £250,000.
However, National Trust chief executive Charles Alluto said they were informed on Monday by Maillard’s Estates, which handled the sale of the area for the Simon family, who operate the sand and gravel works in the bay, that the charity’s bid had been rejected.
The identity of the successful bidder and the size of the bid is not known.
Tommy A’Court, of Maillard’s, said he could not disclose that information, as his client wanted to keep the matter ‘strictly private and confidential’.
‘We raised this money so quickly because that land is very dear to so many people,’ Mr Alluto said.
‘Despite receiving an unprecedented level of support, with over 70 pledges, the trust was unable to secure this beautiful area of duneland for the benefit of the Island.’
The coastal strip in St Ouen’s Bay is subject to strict planning rules, as it is part of the Coastal National Park, where there is a presumption against any form of new development.
However, Mr Alluto said there were no guarantees that in generations to come those policies would not change. As a result, he urged new Environment Minister John Young to take action to protect the land, which unlike other duneland in the bay is not formally listed as a Site of Special Interest.
‘We hope that the new minister will ensure that he proceeds with the SSI designation at the earliest opportunity to protect the wildlife, flora and fauna,’ he said.
‘This has also brought into focus the urgent need for a management plan for the the whole of St Ouen’s Bay to ensure the right balance between protecting the landscape, public access and enjoyment of the area and existing commercial activities.
‘We would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone for their incredible level of support, and to give a firm assurance that we will continue to work tirelessly to protect St Ouen’s Bay from inappropriate development and commercial exploitation.’
The duneland, known as Mielles du Sud, is equivalent in size to five football pitches and also contains a German bunker. Although privately owned for more than 100 years, and in spite of there being no public right of way across the land, the public are currently allowed access and a footpath runs along the length of the sea wall. It has few permitted uses and activities such as camping or holding events there are limited to just six times a year. However, there is nothing to stop the new owner fencing it in and ending generations of public access to the site.
‘We hope that future owners will care for the land and recognise the immense natural beauty and importance to the Island as a whole, and that public access will be maintained,’ Mr Alluto said.
Meanwhile, the future of three potato-growing fields being sold by the States on either side of Pine Walk in St Martin remains undecided. The tendering process closed three weeks ago, but Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis, with whom the decision rests, is still considering the bids. He explained, however, that he was not bound to accept the highest offer – or any of the bids.
He would not confirm how many bids had been received, as he said it was a private and confidential process. But the National Trust for Jersey has confirmed it was among the bidders.
‘There will probably be a decision by the end of this week,’ Deputy Lewis added. ‘The bids are in and a report is being complied by the department, which will make a recommendation.’
