From Daphne Minihane.
ANYONE attending the Senior Citizens’ meeting on 9 October would have heard the frustration, anger and concern expressed by older people at the way they are being treated and, in many ways, discriminated against.

It was with great interest, therefore, that I read ‘Ben’s’ comments under Online Opinion in the JEP on the following day.

Like Ben’s parents my husband and I have requested planning permission to build in our garden – part of which is only a few metres in the green zone. The area of land in question is poor agricultural land, has never been used for anything but as part of the garden, cannot be seen from the road and there have been no objections by our neighbours. Our request to build a bungalow is on medical grounds.

At a Planning application panel meeting on 12 June the decision was two for and two against the request, with the chairman undecided. After some thought the chairman requested the architect to revise the plans and to resubmit them, giving all present the impression that the revised plans would be considered sympathetically and passed.

Not so. They have again been rejected because the area in question is in the green zone and the application represents a significant departure from the established policies of the Jersey Island Plan 2002. In addition personal circumstances (even medical ones) cannot be argued as a determinative factor in deciding an application.

Since submitting our application the Environment Minister has been given planning consent to build accommodation in the green zone for a frail relative and permission has been sought and given to build 32 houses in the green zone approximately 400 metres from our home. The permission given was to build 32 houses but I am led to believe that the number of houses, on completion, will be nearer 40.

Due to the fact that my Constable and Deputy are both on the planning applications sub-committee they are unable to speak on my behalf, even though they had previously expressed their support. They are my parish representatives (to whom else should I turn?) but because I had spoken to them the apartment deems that they are conflicted.

The policy of the States is to keep people in their own homes for as long as possible and as independent as possible. How can this come about when they are not willing to look at applications fairly, reasonably and consistently?

It is said that every society is judged by how it treats its least fortunate among them. In this case help is being sought for a sick person whose mobility is poor and expected to get poorer with his medical condition. I just hope and pray a more caring Assembly is elected this time.
Les Croix,
Rue du Tas de Geon,
Trinity.