Perquage footpaths (FOI)

​Request

Under the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 I would like to request the following:

A

All the information the states have regarding the "perquages"

B

Also in the map of "country access strategy 2016", there are several orange lines classed as "unknown".

Countryside Access Strategy for Jersey Map

What information does property holdings hold about these orange lines?

C

One of these run down a path to the west of St Lawrence church, is this a perquage?

D

Have the states looked at the adjoining land and their deeds?

Response

A

All the information the states have regarding the "perquages"

To the best of our knowledge the Public of the Island own one strip of land that was believed to form part of a Perquage. The “Perquage Footpath and Brook (Le Douet de Canard)” to the southeast of Sandybrook was Gifted, Ceded and Transferred to the Public of the Island by "La Société Jersiaise" on the 24 March 1962.

There is also the possibility that the public highway known as “Castle Street” once formed part of a Perquage, but the States of Jersey do not hold any data specifically in relation to Perquages across the island generally.

Castle Street Picture

Further information on Perquages by La Société Jersiaise can be found by following the links below:

The perquages of Jersey

St Lawrence perquage

B

Also in the map of "country access strategy 2016", there are several orange lines classed as "unknown. What information does property holdings hold about these orange lines?

At the time of publication of the map included within the Access Strategy, the ‘orange lines’ were labelled as unknown ownership.

As the Department of the Environment continue work on the new digital map their aim is to find out ownership and the status of the Island’s paths. So far we have mapped accurately paths maintained by the Department of the Environment, Jersey Water and the National Trust for Jersey. We have written to each of the 12 parishes to ask for information on the parish paths, and as a consequence we have been able to map the paths of seven parishes. We are waiting to hear back from the final five. You can find out more about making an Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the parishes at:

My Parish online: FOI & GDPR

C

One of these run down a path to the west of St Lawrence church, is this a perquage?

The path referred to in the FOI request to the west of St Lawrence church (which we believe is the one which runs west from Abbey Gate and ends at a property called Badier Farm) is marked as ‘Chemin des Morts’ on the Jersey Place Names maps. These maps were traced from the 12½ inches to the mile Ordinance Survey of 1934 which was annotated by Charles and Collette Stevens through their research (see map below).

Map of St Lawrence Church

The path appears to follow a different route nowadays. The Parish of St Lawrence have yet to respond to our request as to their paths, but they may well have more information. You can find out more about making an FOI request to the parishes at:

My Parish online: FOI & GDPR

D

Have the states looked at the adjoining land and their deeds?

We can confirm that the States of Jersey holds the information you are seeking. However, the information is exempt under Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 because the information is already accessible to you.

Copies of property contracts can be accessed freely in the Public Registry. The “Public Registry Index and Document Enrolment” (PRIDE) online system can be accessed either at the Judicial Greffe Public Registry, in the basement of the States Building, or at the Jersey Archive, Clarence Road.

For contact details for the Judicial Greffe please see:

Public Registry records

Exemptions applied

Article 23 – Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.