Latest news with #StMartin
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Volunteer shortage threatens Guernsey club for elderly
The Guernsey Voluntary Service has appealed for help as it warns a lack of volunteers could force the closure of its Russels Social Club in St club provides a community lifeline for many older islanders, but staff said they had reached crisis Mandy Le Bachelet said: "If we don't have the volunteers, we can't provide the services."She explained that the Russels Social Club currently operates with just one or two volunteers: "If we don't find more, we will not be able to run the service and the chances are the members of the club will be stuck isolated at home." Volunteer Sarah Bamford, who helps out every Wednesday morning, said: "I come up for about half past eight till one o'clock. I go away and I feel I've really helped people."She continued: "Loneliness is the biggest problem and I believe we are keeping them in their own homes. There is a need for us all the time."Volunteer Helen Turvey stressed the importance of connecting with the older generation: "More senior people have so much experience and I think we shouldn't lose it."I think we should stay in contact as we'll all be there one day. I hope somebody will help me when I am at that stage." Many of the current volunteers are in their 70s or 80s and while their dedication is key, Mandy Le Bachelet hopes to see younger people step forward: "Everybody says they've got busy lives. But that's what volunteering is all about. Give the time that you can. That makes such a difference to us."Members of the club said it would be a huge loss to the community if the doors were forced to Shorto, who attends twice a week, said: "They help you whenever they can and that makes you want to come." Beulah Le Page added: "I love it here, so if you can volunteer, people would really appreciate it."Diane Renouf has been attending sessions for years and has recently started bringing her husband John with her to said: "It is the most wonderful place anybody could ever wish to come to."We need more volunteers to come and give a hand, otherwise we'd all just be sat at home watching television. I don't know where I'd be without this place."Donna Le Gallais agreed: "We'd be so lonely without this place. The people here are very supportive."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Woolhope show bowls prowess to win LEH Two Counties trophy
WOOLHOPE continue to prove that they are the club to beat across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire as they produced a strong performance to beat St Martin's 47-30 in this year's LEH Two Counties trophy final. Held at Upton Bishop the competition sees two teams of ten go head-to-head across four disciplines of singles, pairs, triples and fours with each player playing once. The final represented another step on St Martin's journey from newborn short mat club to Herefordshire Short Mat Bowls Association stalwarts where a tough path to the final saw them overcome two Gloucestershire teams in Forest of Dean (93-63) and Kingsway (82-60) as they looked to do what both Gloster Knights and Gorsley Chapel were unable to do in the two years previous and turnover a seemingly unstoppable Woolhope side who themselves faced a difficult path with wins over Defford (84-64), Ross (96-64) and Lea/Llangarron (74-67). The stage was set for an intriguing final and a brilliant first half of bowls lay ahead with Woolhope's Bryan Watkins taking on St Martin's Phil Ladd in the singles and Dawn Cox & John Mills taking on Jo Millington and Jim Knowles in the pairs. Any nerves were soon put to one side for St Martin's as both mats capitalised on a sluggish start for the defending champions to put them both 7-1 up with four ends played. However, a spirited fightback from those in blue and red ensured the crowd were treated to a tense finish. A thrilling contest between Watkins and Ladd saw the momentum shift dramatically at the halfway mark, with Watkins edging ahead 12–9 going into the final end, holding his nerve and conceding just a single shot to give Woolhope a two-shot advantage after the opening discipline. A very similar story played out in the pairs with both sides playing to the very best of their abilities. Ultimately it was Cox and Mills who came out on top with 12-8 win putting them six shots up overall at the halfway stage with everything to play for ahead of the second half. The second half required a strong start for St Martin's but it was Woolhope who flew out of the blocks, taking a lead in both the triples and fours. As the ends ticked on, Woolhope used all their experience and exhibited flawless game management across both mats. The Woolhope triple of Carole Crisp, Graham Watkins and Anthony Rogers held off a strong comeback from Keith Jones, Kim Wooden and Pete Goulding to finish up with a 10-8 victory and give their rink an eight-shot buffer as they headed into their eighth end. Ultimately, the team of Shirley Cox, Steve Crisp, Matt Baker and Becci Cox did not need to rely on their eight-shot overall advantage as they produced the result of the night against St Martin's Hazel Vaughan, Irene Healey, Phil Smith & Alan Link with a 13-4 win, giving Woolhope their third LEH victory in a row.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Investigation work set to begin on Jersey's Gorey Pier
"Intrusive" investigation work is set to get under way at a listed pier after cracks were of Jersey said work would begin at Gorey Pier, St Martin, on Tuesday 27 May, subject to planning permission being granted by the Government of Jersey.A report showed parts of the historic pier were cracked due to a combination of age and the effects of Storm Ciarán in November 2023, with specialist company Terra Firma set to be on site for between four and six weeks."Every effort will be made to minimise disruption and complete the work before the peak summer season," a Ports of Jersey spokesperson said. "These investigations are essential to gather detailed information on the condition of the pier, which will inform the best method for its stabilisation."A series of trial pits and boreholes would be opened on the pier arm, pier head and the base of the wall on the harbour side but no work would be undertaken along the bulwarks where the restaurants and residences were located, they this work, planned repairs include replacing the concrete landing deck, reinforcing the western wall, repairing a stress crack in the pier road and demolishing the terminal initial investigations work has been timed to coincide with the upcoming spring tides, when low tide will go down to 1.35m (4.4ft)."The challenges of working in a tidal zone mean we are scheduling the digs at low tide to reduce the risk of sea water filling the holes through the pier," the spokesperson said. They said as the tide comes in, water might need to be pumped out through a filter basket into the work is due to involve intermittent access restrictions for vehicles, parking bays and the public.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dog care training field must 'cease' after planning appeal loss
A dog day care business in Jersey has been given nine months to "cease the use of its field for a canine training facility" after losing an appeal for retrospective planning 2024 the Barkley Club submitted plans for a new building and car park, and for a dog care and training centre near La Rue des Buttes, St Martin, but permission was planning inspector identified the loss of high-quality agricultural land and the potential for noise generated by barking dogs as two principle public support and two appeals, Constable Mike Jackson upheld the refusals for both the construction and the change of use to the field to the south of St Martin's Village. 'Nine-month compliance' Planning authorities said: "While the inspector acknowledged that the facility is professionally managed and meets a demand for dog care services, he concluded that these benefits did not outweigh the clear policy conflicts. "The site is identified as good quality agricultural land the loss of which could only be justified in exceptional circumstances under the policies set out in the Island Plan."It added: "The appeal against the refusal of retrospective planning permission to change the use of the field for a dog care and training centre has also been dismissed, and the enforcement notice upheld but with a revised nine-month compliance period."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Limited changes to IDP follow public consultation
Guernsey's Development and Planning Authority (DPA) has made "limited changes" to its Island Development Plan (IDP), following public consultation. The proposed Vazon Local Centre site has been reduced in scale and affordable housing has been removed, while a potential site on Les Caches in St Martin is no longer DPA plans to replace the two lost developments for affordable housing with sites in St Martin and St Peter said there would be further opportunities for public consultation on the new sites following the general election in June. The public consultation is one of several launched by the DPA in recent years as it tries to settle on locations for development, in a bid to tackle the island's lack of two new sites earmarked for development of affordable housing are School Lane Vinery, La Grande Rue, St Martin and Selbourne Vinery, Route des Coutanchez, St Peter Port. The DPA said "most of us appreciate" more housing is needed in Guernsey but finding the "right sites that people are happy with requires compromise". "We believe that our minor alterations deliver this compromise, enabling this process to move forward after the election," it Holland, the independent planning inspector overseeing the review, said 369 representations were made about the IDP."I am very reassured that islanders have taken the opportunity to again engage, which I am now affording my detailed consideration," he said the DPA had produced a "comprehensive group responses document" to address issues raised and ensure the right approach was taken on housing land supply and planning full public comments and DPA responses are available on the States website.
