Adrian Dilcock stated that the Vale Douzaine’s description of the plans as an ‘April Fool’s joke’ was a sentiment widely shared in the parish next door.
Giving both his personal view and also that of parishioners he has spoken to, Mr Dilcock said that those affected were not in favour of the proposal.
The plans by Island Land for a 12-flat block on Bridge Avenue, where St Sampson’s shares a boundary line with the Vale, have been met with a backlash from the northern parishes.
‘It’s not as tall as the power station chimneys. Who in their right mind would say that the power station chimneys are a yardstick to go by as regards urban development?’ Mr Dilcock said.
‘It’s absolutely hideous.’
The potential for increased traffic was another major point of contention for Mr Dilcock.
He was highly critical of the States’ transport strategy, and said that the proposal’s lack of car parking spaces was naive and unworkable.
‘It basically assumes that we can turn back the clock back to 1940 and just sort of ban cars, but only in the north,’ he said.
‘The naivety of it, and absolute stupidity. is beyond belief.’
Mr Dilcock called the development ‘piecemeal, opportunistic, and parasitic’ – as he felt developers were feeding off the desperation of some islanders for homes.
He also questioned the motives of the developers, who he believed were simply looking to increase the value of land in the midst of a housing crisis.
Island Land, which put the application in for the site, is a company that is aiming to target brownfield sites in the island for potential development to make best of use of land.
Mr Dilcock also expressed frustration at what he sees as a double standard in planning decisions across the island.
‘I’ve got to be honest, the "peasants and scumbags" that live in St Sampson’s [as some people outside the parish seem to view some people living here] are being expected to have any old rubbish,’ he said.
‘I can’t really think of a positive thing about it.’
Mr Dilcock concluded with a powerful message for the States.
‘Enough’s enough, really. It is ridiculous.’
He said he believes a petition in the northern parishes would show that a majority of people do not want further development.
The parish are set to discuss the proposals shortly and decide whether to put in a representation to planning. The plans can be viewed at gov.gg/liveplanningapplications.
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