JERSEY’S first agro-tourism attraction, the Amaizin Maze, has been given permission to develop and expand its St Peter operation.

This includes permission for 15 night time events, five of which can carry on past midnight.Until yesterday former farmer of the year, Carlton Le Feuvre, and his wife, Krystyna, were operating without planning consent – a situation the Planning and Environment sub-committee were happy with because the use was a diversification from agriculture.However, as the maze has become established in Jersey’s summer life, and Mr and Mrs Le Feuvre wanted to develop the attraction further, the sub-committee, chaired by Deputy Jackie Hilton, yesterday considered their proposals.They approved change of use of Field 129, La Hougue Farm, Grande Route de St Pierre, to a venue community field, despite objections from six neighbours.However, assistant planning director Peter Le Gresley said neighbours’ concerns had resulted in a number of restrictions being imposed.’They are limited to 15 occasions in any calendar year and of the 15 only five can go on to 1 am and the rest must stop by 9 pm.

They were very strict conditions as the sub-committee also limited that part of the application temporarily for one year only in order to evaluate it once it is in operation,’ he said.The use of Fields 132 and 133 for the maze itself were also approved, but associated facilities, such as toilets, catering and a children’s playground must be relocated away from neighbouring properties.

Permission was also granted to convert an agricultural reservoir to recreational fishing and to create a cycle track around the boundaries of Fields 128, 129, 132A, 132, 133 and 134.