From Silva Yates, Constable of St Martin
I WOULD like to commend the thoughtful letter (JEP, 20 Feb) of St Martin’s parishioner Mr M Keeping where he refers to the JEP article of 5 February concerning the future of the St Martin’s community.

I totally agree with many of the points he raises but unfortunately he seems to have joined the debate half way through and has almost certainly misconstrued my motives.
This debate is about the current Draft Island Plan and St Martin’s place within this future plan which will importantly affect the lives of all residents of this Island.

My motive is to alert St Martin’s parishioners at this time to the crucial question ‘do you wish to have a say in the future of your Parish, yes or no?’

During the period mid-November last year to mid-January this year I presented a parish/village community study document on display at the Public Hall. This was not a village plan but a collection of topics for discussion, ideas and possibilities for the future under ten headings. I did raise the issues of affordable first-time buyer housing, retirement homes and other aspects of improvements to community facilities.

A large number of parishioners took part in this public consultation and we received approximately 170 written responses, which I believe will serve as a powerful signal to the Minister of Planning and Environment that the parishioners of St Martin will wish to have a say in the future of their parish.

My work on these issues is now largely complete. I have raised questions, I have stimulated debate, I have rallied a strong working party from a wide cross-section of parishioners to form a committee to formulate a village plan which will be attached to the 2010 Island Plan at a later date.

I would urge your correspondent to wholeheartedly support the Draft Island Plan and join with us to try to achieve a viable future for Jersey’s rural communities.