He announced yesterday that he would stand in the election to replace Yvonne Burford and outlined an ambitious agenda for the role he left six years ago.
A contested election looks likely, after Jayne Ozanne said earlier this week that she intended to stand, and some States members still expect a bid from Chris Blin, who has been unavailable for comment in recent days. It has now been confirmed that the election of a new DPA president will be held at the next States meeting on 22 October.
Deputy Gollop identified housing around parish centres as his ‘number one priority’ on a lengthy to-do list.
‘My vision is a big agenda of ensuring the right development occurs on the right sites, while protecting the northern parish culture, rural landscape and countryside,’ he said.
‘I would also support more protected conservation areas, a national park or two, greater protection of biodiversity and the countryside in conjunction with nature societies, protection of farmland from encroaching development and change of use applications, and public art and aesthetic, eye-catching designs should be our legacy.’
Much of the DPA’s agenda is likely to be filled with a long-awaited review of part of the Island Development Plan. The authority is also under direction to return to the States with legal changes to relax the process for amending the IDP. But it is likely to recommend postponing a full review of the IDP which is due next year under planning law.
Deputy Gollop said he would want to make sure that the island’s planning regime remained under the control of elected members and see nearly all applications turned around within eight weeks.
He hoped the DPA would help in the States’ efforts to develop Leale’s Yard, which it bought from the Coop in August, and promote modern designs in more high-rise buildings, but was concerned about projects such as ‘a small cottage on the west coast suddenly becoming a mansion’ and other incongruous developments.
‘I also support more emphasis on public transport use and green footpaths,’ he said.
‘New housing estates must have environmental features and I support better biodiversity and ecological sustainability. We need tougher legislation on destruction of habitat and biodiversity.’
He wanted to see greater public consultation, more applications dealt with at open planning meetings, and more frequent meetings between politicians and stakeholders in the planning process.
Deputy Gollop also has previous experience of planning issues as a member of the former Environment and Heritage Committees, in addition to three years as DPA president in the political term before last.
In 2019 he resigned as DPA president, saying at that time he was not the person to provide the committee with leadership. But he has hinted at a return several times before this week’s announcement.
‘As a long-serving member, I believe I have the political experience across eight States to have a senior leadership role and be active and achieve,’ he said.
Deputy Burford resigned as DPA president when she was elected as a member of the Policy & Resources Committee last week because States rules preclude the two roles being held together.
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