States plans for change of use of four beachside sites
FOUR beachside sites could have their use changed for commercial outdoor recreational activities in the summertime, if planning permission is granted.
The applications have come from Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services – an arm of Environment & Infrastructure.
In the application, principal environment services officer Andy McCutcheon said the change aimed to allow outdoor activities to use the spaces at Cobo, Grandes Rocques, South Grandes Rocques Slipway and Petit Bot between 1 April and 1 October between 2023 and 2025.
The sites are all States-owned.
‘The purpose of making these applications is primarily to provide a firm, equitable and lawful basis for Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services to fulfil its mandate in respect of its land management obligations,’ Mr McCutcheon said.
‘Therefore we are seeking permission, with conditions, to minimise potential conflicts between group providers of outdoor recreation and other users of the same land – members of the public.’
He said the applications were not being submitted for the benefit of individual operators, but instead aimed to provide a framework to enable wise and sustainable use by groups.
‘In seeking to recognise and regularise organised and legitimate recreational activities, ACLMS is aiming to manage those activities which risk interfering with, or obstructing access to, publicly accessible land, including the foreshore, which comes under its jurisdiction,’ Mr McCutcheon said.
‘It also seeks to minimise risks to the natural environment by permitting activities with conditions which, for example, would require operators to follow codes of practice aimed at protecting wildlife and the effective management of risks.’
The applications note that organised outdoor recreation was a major contributor to encouraging active lifestyles for both physical and mental wellbeing.
It also has educational and economic benefits.
However, operators offering activities like kayaking, paddle-boarding and coasteering often needed on-site storage space, which is where these plans come in.
The permissions would enable the parking of vehicles and trailers for commercial outdoor recreational activities, such as kayaking and coasteering. Apart from Petit Bot, these could not be left on-site overnight.
Mr McCutcheon said it was expected that sites would be used by recognised and legitimate operators, who already satisfied other legal requirements such as health and safety laws.
Where appropriate, formal arrangements could be drawn up by States Property Unit on behalf of ACLMS to enable operators to use and operate from land in the ownership and/or management of the States of Guernsey.
An application was originally submitted for Chouet car park as well, but this was withdrawn.
Natural Environment director Jim Robinson said it was submitted in error and has been withdrawn after discussion with the Vale Commons Council, which is responsible for the land.
