‘I don’t think it matters what you say to planners any more’
CONCERNS about road access, loss of a wildlife area and the proximity of buildings to their homes were raised by Braye Road residents after they learned of a planning application to construct 18 light-industrial units on a field near the road’s industrial estate.
But while at least one resident is preparing to object to the plans, others seemed resigned.
Plans have been submitted by Red 5 Ltd for four buildings on the field between houses on Braye Road and the Guernsey Press offices.
Jason Flouquet’s property is right next to the access road and he said he and his wife were more or less resigned to the plans being approved.
‘I don’t think it really matters any more what you say,’ he said.
‘We’ve objected before. But I’ve no objection to something going there, since it’s industrial land.’
His main concern was the Vale site’s access.
‘Braye Road is a busy road and using this as access to the site right opposite a very busy garage, you’re asking for a bad accident to happen.’
As well as drivers coming along the road faster than the 25mph speed limit, there had been accidents before with motorists exiting Braye Road Garage, which is opposite the site’s access road.
‘I don’t see one car passing here at 25 [mph]. Sometimes when we’re trying to get out of our drive it’s just a nightmare.’
He wondered if the developers would have much luck finding tenants for the site: ‘There are a lot of empty light industrial sites around the island. Why not try and use those as well?’
Pulse Fuels group owns and operates the garage and group owner Dan Maree said he did not see a big problem with the new access road, even though cars can often be seen queuing along the east-bound carriageway waiting to enter the garage.
‘I’m always up for supporting development,’ he said.
‘I don’t see a big issue. The more people who come to use us, the better.’
‘When we bought the house we knew it was zoned for light industry,’ said a woman whose home, a listed building, backs onto the site and who asked not to be named.
She and her husband moved in about five years ago.
They had seen the development framework: ‘They have to be sensitive to all the protected buildings around here,’ she said.
‘If we have any concerns we’ll speak to the planners about them.’
Another woman who asked to remain anonymous said she and her husband would be filing an objection to the plans.
Their garden is right next to the east edge of the site and she said that when they moved in the area was a haven for wildlife.
‘We used to see lots of rabbits but now they’ve got nowhere to live,’ she said.
The site was partly a key industrial area but the area nearest her garden was classed as a key industrial expansion area and she said her understanding was that a KIEA cannot be made use of until the surrounding KIA was all used up.
She was also worried about her garden being overlooked by the new buildings and concerned about the loss of more green space.
‘There’s no joined-up thinking, that’s the trouble. We get told that we have to deal with climate change and Guernsey has to do what it can, yet they continually let green fields be rezoned.’
