Ruling on al fresco bar is 'huge blow' for owner

Planning inspectors have refused a retrospective application for the awning and glass panels around Bar Levant

A restaurant owner has said the decision by planners to retrospectively refuse permission for his al fresco bar area is a "huge blow" for his business.

Inspectors said glass panels and an awning surrounding the seating area at Bar Levant in St Helier "contributes to the daytime and evening economy".

But they also felt the area took away public space and made it difficult for pedestrians and those using wheelchairs to get past.

Bar Levant owner David Voisin said he wanted to work with planning authorities to reach a compromise, adding "Closing it all down is very much a last resort."

David Voisin said he wanted to work with planning authorities to reach an agreement on the space

Mr Voisin said the decision to refuse permission seemed at odds with government plans to revitalise the area.

He said the government had committed to spending £2.5m on Broad Street as part of public realm improvements.

"They talk about this policy of improving this area, and the night time economy of St Helier, but I don't see a lot of action," he said.

However, planning inspectors concluded: "The economic benefits of the proposals would not outweigh the disbenefits to the local character and distinctiveness of the area."

'Slightly quirky area'

Mr Voisin said the reason he did not apply for permission before installing the glass panels and awning was because of complications around land ownership.

"It is a slightly quirky area. The al fresco area used to be a taxi rank and that is owned by Jersey Property Holdings.

"We weren't able to submit an application without the authority of the landowner and I could not get anyone to give me authorisation to put an application in.

"We'd had two terrible summers and I needed to move, I needed to operate a business, so that's why we did it."

BBC Jersey has approached Jersey Property Holdings for comment.