Changes made to Little Chapel plans

Thursday 02 January 2020

The Little Chapel Foundation has adapted its plans for the site, because of concerns that the religious aspect might be lost.

Among plans to enhance the popular tourist attraction and increase accessibility was a proposal for a 'hobbit hole' for children, featuring a bug hotel.

However, during a consultation in December, Father Bruce Barnes of the local Catholic Church stood against the idea.

"Father Bruce expressed concern about the word 'hobbit' because it has non-religious connotations," explained John Silvester from the Foundation. "If it was causing concern to the Catholic Dean and the Catholic community we were very happy to remove it. It was a unanimous decision."

Although no plans have been put in place to replace the 'hobbit hole', the Foundation is keen to continue with its aim.

Pictured: Members of the Little Chapel Foundation.

"We will try to ensure that we've got education facilities for the children," Mr Silvester added. "We're trying to educate the children to protect the environment."

Another minor change has been added to the plans, which now ask for a small ramp from the path to the shop to make the area more accessible.

"The States have been debating access for all for months," said Mr Silvester. "We're really just doing what we're going to have to do anyway."

The plans, which have raised concerns for some members of the public since being published, also include the planting of hundreds of new trees and plants in the chapel garden.

"There's been a lot of discussion about biodiversity and looking after the environment, and that's what we're doing," Mr Silvester continued. "We're going to plant well over 200 trees to improve that environment and get the wildlife back.

Pictured: The Little Chapel.

"La Société Guernesiaise have been giving us really good advice and we've come up with a plan that will really increase biodiversity."

 Members of the public were given the opportunity to have their say on the plans, which will now be considered by the Development & Planning Authority.

"if these enhancements are going to happen in the next three years we need people to come to the Little Chapel and make donations," Mr Silvester added. "it's part of our Guernsey heritage and it's a major tourist attraction. The plans are all common sense and just what we've been asked to do really.

"Next year there will be even more improvements on the inside. It is special now, but it will be even more special then."

Pictured top: The Little Chapel attracts more than 70,000 visitors each year.