From Chick Anthony, chairman, Société Jersiaise Environmental Section.
MANY readers will no doubt be disappointed that the States have refrained from supporting the principle of compulsory purchase for the holiday village site at Plémont.

Their decision was not surprising once the possible consequences had been made clear. However, all is not yet lost. The future of the site is still undecided.

The next hurdle is the imminent decision of the Planning Applications Committee as to whether or not to agree the application for three groups of houses on the south of the site (on land that has never been developed), with the remainder to the north being cleared and returned as far as possible to nature.

The Environment Section of the Société Jersiaise has objected on several occasions to applications in this series. We believe not only do they conflict with the Planning Law’s basic premise of preserving the countryside, but they are also unarguably contrary to both general and specific policies in the Island Plan, We hope that the Applications Committee will take into consideration only the facts of the application and its conformity with Island Plan policies.

At this stage, any alternatives that may have been published are irrelevant to this fundamental decision, even though whatever course may then be followed will have to be considered in the light of the coming decision.

The owner has repeated that he is not opposed to the principle of selling. However, his price can only be arrived at once the potential value of the site has been explored. If permission for development is refused, the value of the site will obviously be much less than if development is allowed.

Nevertheless, the committee’s decision should be based solely on conformity with the Island Plan – policies that were developed through full public consultation and have only recently been reinforced by public petitions and demonstrations.

We are convinced that these policies can be effective in providing the protection of the countryside that was intended.