‘Traffic impact assessment needed before any new builds’

The comments appeared on the parish website at the weekend, in the wake of news last week that a planning framework for up to 35 new homes off Route Militaire had been approved by planners.

Douzeniers had come to their conclusion before the announcement of the approval, noting that it was part of about 1,500 new properties that could be built in the two parishes.

St Sampson’s douzaine previously expressed concern that traffic assessments for the proposed developments were being carried out on a site-by-site basis, and now the Vale has added its voice to the fears.

‘It makes no sense to us to approach planning on a piecemeal basis when the impact of traffic is so widespread,’ senior constable Richard Leale is reported to have said after the meeting. He told the Guernsey Press he had arranged a meeting with Development & Planning Authority president Deputy Dawn Tindall next week to air the douzaine’s views.

Junior constable Bill Cohu said that no matter what anyone said, there was no way to stop people having cars, although perhaps reducing parking with each property could help.

‘I don’t know why all these places are built with parking spaces, I really don’t,’ he said, pointing out that this was a personal view.

In the Vale website article, Mr Leale said that the piecemeal approach was evidenced by planning needing to have an addendum from traffic experts Arup to its Saltpans framework document owing to new developments.

‘In the light of this it seemed self-evident to the Vale Douzaine that a more holistic approach is needed for development in the North – including targeting brownfield sites ahead of open fields – and we shall be speaking to our colleagues in St Sampson’s about trying to take this further.’

The douzaine’s views were echoed by people commenting on its Facebook page: ‘Please stop ruining the north of the island, it’s soul-destroying for those of us who live down here,’ said Cath Saunders. ‘We must stand up for retaining our greenfield sites and wildlife habitats.’

Sally Le Maitre did not think Arup was the right company to prepare a TIA. ‘I hope if a TIA is undertaken it isn’t done by Arup, who prepared the one for the two-school models as that wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.’

There was a call for unity from Kay De La Rue-Harding.

‘Vale and St Sampson’s need to collaborate to stop our parishes becoming a housing dumping ground,’ while Ann Hunt said it was time for developers to look elsewhere: ‘Enough is enough.

‘We have had it for too long now. It’s another parish’s turn to have the new builds.’