Guernsey Press

Vinery neighbours’ concerns turn to new school model

RESIDENTS who live close to the Domarie Vinery development have said they are now more concerned about the traffic impact the new school model will have on their area.

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Domarie and Avondale vineries neighbour John Boalch. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 26891135)

After a number of years of arguing their case against the planning application for the Domarie and Avondale vineries site on Oatlands Lane in St Sampson’s, the recent approval has subdued neighbouring residents’ spirits and many feel they can do no more with the newly-submitted revised conditions application.

James Leale, who has been a staunch campaigner against the application, said he felt there was nothing more they could do.

‘It’s been approved,’ he said.

‘There are things that are happening that we were told wouldn’t, but nobody has listened to us.

‘Trucks are not meant to be using the access here next to us, but they do, [Development & Planning Authority president] Deputy Dawn Tindall said it would be policed, as far as we can see it isn’t.’

He added that the revised conditions to no longer alter the access drive and no longer add acoustic fencing was a bad idea.

‘They were going to alter the access further up for safety and put up a fence [to the south] to help reduce the noise but now to say this won’t be done, it’s just typical.

‘Neighbours near the access have taken photos and videoed trucks coming out and they always go over the line, in fact they’re so big they brush the hedge opposite to get out – it’s dangerous and always will be.

‘We have never wanted it to go ahead, but we’ve given up, no one has listened.’

Remaining steadfast, John Baulch said regardless of the new application revising some of the conditions, planning for the site to change its use from horticultural buildings and a glasshouse to general storage/distribution and storage/sorting of recyclable materials should never have been approved.

‘It’s all wrong,’ he said.

‘Everyone around here is upset that it is going ahead.

‘I mean, there are perfectly good glasshouses that could still be used.

‘We haven’t been heard though throughout, all our letters have fallen on deaf ears.’

Despite hundreds of objections to the site, planning permission was granted last year.

Pete Simons, who has lived in the area since 1977, said their focus was now on what the new school model meant for them.

‘We’re now more concerned about the school [St Sampson’s High School]. Everything will change when that changes.

‘The Traffic Impact Assessment states that Les Gigands may become one-way, so God knows how we’re going to get here.

‘There’s already been some complaints.’