Sunday, February 18, 2018

What to do with Haut de la Garenne ?


The former Haut de la Garenne children's home has been used since 2011 as an Accommodation and Activity Centre.
The building can accommodate about 100 people and is registered under the Hostel category of the Jersey Tourism Law.
The building is listed as a Grade 4 example of a residential institution for its external appearance only. The interior has been extensively altered and modernised to suit its current purpose which is run by a local business for the owners - the States of Jersey Property Services Department - on a lease that currently expires in April 2019.
The building is within the Green Zone.

The business has spent a considerable amount of money improving the building and facilities.
Since 2012 the centre has provided accommodations and facilities for more than 35,500 bed nights. Many of the users are children with school groups from the UK and abroad but accommodation is available to small groups and families too.



Haut de la Garenne featured prominently in the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry which investigated extensive child abuse in Jersey since 1945 and Reported in July 2017.

That Inquiry recommended that Haut de la Garenne should be demolished among many other reforms..

This video was recorded on Sunday 18 February 2018 when the building was opened to the public over two afternoons.
It is intended to show something of the existing hostel facilities only without comment.
About 90 people visited over the two days.

The business owners have written to 47 States Members. 30 did not reply at all. Only a handful accepted their invitation to visit the building.
CM Gorst has not responded.

The question of what should be done with Haut de la Garenne has now been put out for public consultation from 8 February until 22 April 2018 through the Community and Constitutional Affairs Department. This can be contacted via HDLG@gov.je

It seems that the adjacent building "Aviemore" does not form part of this consultation for reasons which are not clear.