Concerns over access road for Pointues Rocques development
Concerns about the proposed access road to a new housing development at Pointues Rocques have been raised by members of the Delancey Conservation Group in a letter to deputies.
Plans to build 68 homes on the site, which is in multiple ownership, were approved by the Development & Planning Authority in July 2022 and Policy & Resources has given its backing to the Guernsey Housing Association taking a stake on the site.
If the GHA goes ahead, it has said that just under two-thirds of the units would be affordable housing.
Development of the site has always been controversial and the latest element to be targeted by the conservation group is an access road that would be built once work starts.
One of the conditions of the plans being approved was that access would be from Robergerie Road, rather than Pointues Rocques itself. This would be through a property known as The Swallows, which is to be demolished.
The Delancey neighbours are worried about the height of this road and the likely cost.
The group said its safety concerns stem from the fact that the road will rise 8.81m across a distance of up to 70 metres.
‘It seems obvious (as the adjoining gardens are significantly lower than the development site) that, for at least one of these neighbours, vehicles will be passing well above head-height.’
Its letter also asks for deputies to reflect on the costs, since the road would need to be structurally secure enough to cope with heavy vehicles, underground services and parking spaces for cars. They claim 'a mountain of hardcore' will be needed to reach the top of the slope, requiring a 'substantial outlay' which 'will have no positive implication on the availability of affordable housing whatsoever, not to mention the cost of contamination investigation, de-watering and full site clearance.’
There had been undertakings given that ‘opportunities’ would be discussed with residents of the area, such as a nine to 12-month trial on restricting through-traffic and safe walking routes to the Bridge.
The group wrote to the DPA for about a year after the most recent open planning meeting to find out how the measures proposed would be followed through.
‘Disappointingly, the committee’s president refused to engage in a way that was helpful,’ it claimed.
The States has been approached for comment.
