The St Martin’s draft community plan was published this week, with ideas for houses and traffic, as well as green amenity space to serve the community.
The ideas in the plan came from parishioners themselves, with any idea getting more than 50% backing included by officials.
The idea for a community park received 100% backing and sparked the most excitement.
Carla Bauer, the douzaine’s community plan lead, said that much of the land proposed for the park already belonged to the parish.
‘But this is not about who owns the land, it’s really about a vision for the future,’ she said.
‘Lots of residents said they wanted a community park appropriate for all ages. It would be a green lung right in the middle of the parish.’
Much of the area is agricultural land, rented out by the parish, with some private gardens to the south of the proposed area.
‘When people drive through St Martin’s they think it is built-up, but when you look at aerial photography you see there is a surprising amount of green space.’
She said the original driving force behind the plan had been housing proposals from the States which had gone down badly in the parish and were subsequently withdrawn.
‘As a result of that, there was quite a well of feeling that the planners weren't really conscious of what the views are,’ she said.
‘So at a parish meeting last November we agreed to go forward to put together a community plan.
‘We put the committee together and asked people for their opinions, and this is what the people of the parish have asked for.’
A timeline for the area’s transformation and how it could be funded were conversations that would have to wait for the future but one possible source of funding could be the sale of parish property no longer required.
One other proposal which obtained only 55% backing was the potential sale and redevelopment of the rectory, close to the proposed park, for housing.
‘That belongs to the parish at the moment, and the States agreed that in five years’ time we wouldn’t have to house the rector any longer,’ she said.
‘It is a very, very old building that I think it goes back to the 1600s and so it’s cold and it needs quite a lot of work. But because it’s in a prime site, in the main high street of the parish, then it seems a good opportunity to develop that, or to incorporate it as part of the heart of the community park.’
Once feedback has been incorporated, the St Martin’s Community Plan could become supplementary planning guidance under the Island Development Plan, with a direct influence on future development.
The 73-page document contains almost 50 proposals and Ms Bauer said the project had been fascinating to work on.
‘I think what has surprised me is the fabulous support that we’ve received from the people of the parish,’ she said.
‘And how we’ve got some fantastic assets and how they want to enhance them and make St Martin’s into a real community.’
The community plan sets out how those who live, work and spend time in the area would like to see their local area change in the future. Once the plan is finalised, following consultation, it will be taken into account by the Development & Planning Authority when assessing applications for development within the area.
Parishioners can visit www.corbeau.gg/smcpdraft or collect a copy from the Constables’ Office.
The deadline for comments is 5pm on Wednesday 8 October.
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