Rezoning vote undermines minister’s deal with Dandara
Thursday 10th June 2010, 2:57PM BST.
Environment Minister Freddie Cohen.
ENVIRONMENT Minister Freddie Cohen says that he has been left in an extremely difficult position after the States agreed to rezone a field near the former Jersey Dairy site.
Senator Cohen had given an indication to Dandara that they could build a small number of houses on field 530a in St Saviour.
But on Tuesday the States voted in favour of Deputy Roy Le Hérissier’s proposition to rezone the land from countryside to green zone, thus giving it a higher protection from development.
• See Thursday’s JEP for full story.
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Well done Royston. About time someone stood up to Dandara. They have had it far too easy for far to long.
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What’s the problem ? Senator Cohen has been overridden by the due democratic process. End of.
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Well like other people have experienced, planning will have to say no!
Many people have had advice from his department only to have their application refused so whats the difference!
(other than its Dandara!)
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Why has this company been allowed to rape the island to little benefit to locals?
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Serves him right for trying to sneak in the extra houses on pristine agricultural land.
Well done Roy – you deserve a big pat on the back!
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Folk will be sobbing in the streets…poor Dandara, and a plaintif cry from one who has allowed environmental vandalism on his watch…Portelet…Wolf’s caves,and so on.pathetic.
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Well thats what you get when fools run the island
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People Of Jersey 1.
Dandara 0
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Sometimes the democratic process does work here!
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Planning – that’s a contradiction in terms isn’t it!
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Oh yes well done Roy
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Why have the states got involved with a planning issue? does this mean when someone wants windows replaced on there listed property it has to go to a vote by the 50 odd state members each time?
sounds silly to me.
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Simple Freddie ! Tell Dandara that the people of Jersey have had enough. In fact perhaps tell them that they would like them to pack their bags and depart on that boat in the morning. I hear Guernsey is the one to suffer next.
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Perhaps Senator Cohen would like to explain in full why this puts him in a difficult position.
If he only gave an “indication” then Dandara must have known it would be subject to all the usual planning constraints etc.
So Senator what’s the problem?
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I’d put money on this getting reversed and dandara getting their way
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aaah poor Cohen in a difficult situation, he tried to ruin our island a little more then got turned down due to his incompetance.
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And who will pay compensation? The Tax Payer of course! I was about to go to the hustings last night with a fist full of questions but I decided not to waste my breath by feeding pearls to swine. I stayed at home and enjoyed a delicious supper with my family. Until we go back to the days of not paying our leaders we will never have any States Members of quality.
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Toys and pram come to mind – he he he he he !!!!
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A lot of people have had the pleasure of “Freddie’s indications” only for him to change his mind at a later date. Nothing new here then!!!
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So there are still small pockets of democracy left in the island. Bravo!!
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no 10
planning oppossed this extention it is the ministers “baby” project so toys & pram do come into play!!
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Dandara has gotten away with far too much with help from Cohen. They can both leave the island as far as I’m concerned.
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I cannot really understand why Freddie Cohen is in a difficult position-an embarrassing one perhaps if he has been boasting that his word is law and he can get anything passed but surely Dandara realise that it is not all in the hands of one man?Perhaps it is time that Dandara and Freddie both realise that not everyone is impressed by them.
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Does lobbying exist in Jersey?
Or is that a silly question?
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Dandara have backed down NO APPEAL the beans win!!!no building on field 530a work together folks it can be done with politicos like Roy Le Herrisier behind you.
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Freddie should not be concerned about his dealings with Dandara and instead stop griping and update Dandara with the new criteria.
In my job change like this happens all the time – you don’t see me blubbing about it in the local rag.
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Those houses can now safely be built in St. Ouen, St. Mary or St. Peter or somewhere quite close to Mr. Cohen’s abode, where green fields remain untouched.
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The attitude seems to be unanimous then!
Will poor Freddie listen though?
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1.norman conquest
Quite right, how dare Dandara build homes for mere people?
4. Overpopulated
In as much as they’ve been building homes for many “locals” to live in. Still, if you’re so worried about overpopulation, why don’t you knock down your home and leave? That should free up some space!
5. Nellie Macon
Nellie you’ve hit the nail on the head! How absolutely shocking that building homes for people should be considered more important than pristine agricultural land. What do people matter after all?
Still, I think we should be even more bold, and should actually aim to recover all of pristine agricultural land lost to the island over the years. After all, we don’t want to seem to be biased. I therefore advocate that all homes, built on any pristine agricultural land over the last thousand years, be immediately removed, and the land returned to its pristine status. You can hardly disagree I feel sure, so will you start the ball rolling for us with your home…?
6.truthseeker
And of course the pub at Wolf’s caves and the Holiday Village at Portelet were a sheer delight to the senses.
8.Farmer Trev
A few people in Jersey who have a nice home in the country, and want to keep everyone else out – 1
People without homes in the country, and now even less chance of having one – 0.
Still as long as you’re OK!
9.Mike S
Only when it suits you of course!
13. wan
You want Freddie to tell Dandara that people in Jersey are fed up of them building homes! One small point, where do you think people should live, in the sea perhaps…?
16. Annie Du Feu
You could always demolish your home and un-ruin a small part of the island. Bet you won’t though.
20. Terry
More like vested interests and the massed ranks of the cult of NIMBYism. Still, you just carry on exulting over the fact that it’s become a little bit harder for people in Jersey to get a home outside of St Helier.
22. Bernard
If you were to leave with them, it would free up even more “pristine agricultural land”.
25. keep green fields
How do beans without a home win by this? Still, that’s not you’re problem, so who cares!
28. Stanley
I beg to differ!
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Judging by the property pages of the JEP today with hundreds of flats and houses for sale, I am not sure why Jersey needs more houses built.
The banks are reluctant to lend as they consider Jersey property overpriced, as indeed most of us do. So it seem there is going to be surplus property for the forseeable future.
We locals have voted against more people and more building on this tiny island and have been ignored by politicians, perhaps the worm has now turned.
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OK Sylvester Sneekly,
As you seem to have all the answers: Why is it that Dandara has built a surplus of unaffordable (that is to the aboriginals that call themselves bean’s) apartments that sit empty?
Why is it that Dandara build houses (to call them homes or dwellings is to put phone boxes in the same list) that are significantly smaller in terms of rooms sizes that other places with restricted land? Could it be greed perhaps or lack of architectural imagination.
How has our esteemed planning minister forged such an alliance with the prime developer on the island, rather than keeping a hands off or appropriate working distance?
As ever, locals are made to feel that complaining or voicing an opinion is either beyond their capabilities or pointless because nobody listens.
All I can say is: Tiocfaidh ár lá…it means “Our day will come”
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The reason Dandara (in my opinion) get what they want from Freddie is that they masage his ego, they had the original plans done (for the Castle Quays developemnt) with Eric Khune and once Freddie came in and wanted to hide behind a “Renowned architect” Dandara dumped him and did what Freddie wanted, local architects are unable to get a look in (unless they are working with a big name)
In fairness to Dandara they do provide employment for locals (and impported labour) sponsor lots of charities and whether we like it or not provide housing for local people as well, however that should not afford them favours from our government and i think it is this that sticks in peoples throat, i know of cases where they have been granted plannng against policy but when challenged it was deemed a mistake!
I would like to see another big developer come in and give them some competition however our planning department is so unpredictable that this is not likely to happen as the risks and costs are just too high, so I fear we are lumbered with them, all we can hope is that planning and government have the back bone to stand up to them or we are bound to feel that they have “other” reasons for pandering to their many many demands.
Time will tell Freddie, we are all watching!
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20 Sylvester sneekly..if you want to pass comment on everyone.have the decency to have a realistic argument…. the pub at Wolfs caves was simply past it’s sell by date ,fine no argument with that…but to want to replace it with a totally out of keeping monstrosity that will look like a Thai whore house is outrageous and the awful camp thing at Portelet should never have been allowed…so you see not saying what was there was O.K. far from it but when buildings are up tey are up for a longish time so when the opportunity comes to replace them it’s a golden opprtuninty to do so with skill ,style and taste which is not what is happening that Hideous thing at Portelet is cringemaking and will remain awfull for a long time..untill it is mercifully demolished.let us hope those in the driving seat will have learn’t something as clearly Freddie and his cronies..have dwelt on the material.
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C Le Verdic 24.
Lobbying of a type does exist – for example if someone wants to build a property, once the law has been examined, it pays to see the Minister to ensure he likes the project as he is apt to change his mind.
You are then referred to various consultants for traffic management, landscaping schemes, tree-hugging surveys (well you get the drift).
I am unsure if the consultants themselves lobby for work as often referrals can be very specific.
The problem with lobbying as I said earlier is that there is a strong probability of a mind change and when a decent sized application can cost tens of thousands (after you have been given a strong indication of support) it can make a huge difference.
I’m not particularly talking about developers -anyone wanting something other than an extension i.e. a farmer wanting a cow shed, a farm-shop wanting hard standing for cars, an attracion wanting a visitor centre etc.
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#29 Hilarious post, clearly one purely to wind up people
What’s the problem, did Freddie get above his station and forget that this isn’t a dictatorship with him at the helm? Oops, will he have to eat humble pie and remind Dandara that there are other people to be consulted on such important issues like house building?
Take a leaf out of other men’s books Freddie, if you’re feeling inadequate in some way just buy a fast, expensive car, don’t pretend every island decision is yours to make!
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The trouble with local people is that they will not accept anything less than brand new. There are plenty of houses for sale in Jersey with can be modernised with minimum effort.
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I congratulate the return to greenland, this is vital to keep Jersey what it should be a Island not a floating housing estate!
Dandarra has taken over here and they may employ some Jersey tradesmen but they also import a lot taking jobs from the locals forcing local trades to push up prices and close down when they can’t compete, when they are done they will dissapear from the island and leave with all the assets they acquired including the qualified trades leaving us with a few ugly buildings and very large mortgages !
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I Shall be crying for Mr Dan Dara.
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Now that we have all had a knee jerk reaction! What is really going on? We have not a clue!
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Freddie Cohen should resign from the States with immediate effect. He has given the green light to developers to literally rape Jersey of its dignity and its people of there money. Property that is being developed is being sold to outside investors and even advertised as “investment” property.
Not homes…..
They are so small you couldn’t swing a cat in them and considering we have such a shortage of housing its taken years to sell half of Goose Green development… last count 10 remained. And that was only because Freddie and his gang bought over 40 on a shared equity arrangement.
That’s you and me the tax payer paying again.
It’s all too cosy and too close for comfort.
A conflict of interest?… Maybe.
A disaster waiting to happen?… definitely.
Well done Deputy a job well done.
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No more houses or apartments should be built until those presently on the market are sold. Jersey needs to take stock and stop spending.
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#36 Toasted, who are these locals? Any locals I’ve met are only looking at older buildings (inc. my partner and I) I would only ever buy new if I had personally commissioned the build because build quality in new homes has gone seriously downhill with anything from 10+ major faults being foud in any newbuild. Although that is a recent UK statistic it is one that probably does still apply to Jersey.
Buying a new home is as mad as buying a brand new car.
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And where is the new pumping station at Beaumont that Dandara were meant to put in?
They do not adhere to what planning say so I would not be surprised to see them build the houses anyway!
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Makes you wonder who is actually running Jersey’s government.
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The island could have had it’s own building company with proper apprentice schemes in all trades…. a practical architectural dept….not some public school ponces fannying around with bits of bronze..proper succession planning whereby a good loyal worker had hope of getting on in their career,without directors of the company parachuting their mates in and gazumping those who had loyally worked their way up.it would provide work for all it’s employees and casuals as well.we would have control of quality and performance…….Houses like the neat ones at Rue de la Potterie behind Jersey Pottery that actually are in keeping with the area and do have room to swing a cat would have housed and homed people properly…Jersey used to be run by common sense…is it so hard to get it right..? No. only when some jobsworth gets in the way….Reform reform.
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#44. jersey taxpayer.
The lunatics are running the asylum!
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I would just like to congratulate Roy Le Herissier for successfully winning his proposition in the States to protect this small area of Jersey from these greedy property developers.
Elected Politicians please back Roy Le Herissier on more of his well thought out and sensible proposals and we could actually defeat the COM on more of their ridiculous proposals and decisions for the sake of the Jersey’s hard working indigenous people.
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