The Guernsey Press reported last month that agricultural land next to the airport, where developers have applied to put temporary accommodation to house construction workers to build a hangar, had been cleared prior to the application.
The Development & Planning Authority said on 16 October that it had ruled that unauthorised development had been carried out and had given UK-based developers, Civils, until 4 November to apply for permission for the work or re-instate the land.
Director of planning Jim Rowles said that in the event of refusal, ‘further action could be taken by the authority to secure reinstatement’.
All the vegetation, including a stand of willow trees, had been cleared from the area and large earthbanks more than 10 feet high had taken their place.
The unauthorised work referred to partial demolition of banks, storage of earth and placing of vehicles and a shipping container, not the removal of trees and vegetation, which planning said did not constitute development that would require planning permission.
Colin Dodd, who owns a neighbouring field, said he had seen no sign of the developers carrying out planning’s instructions.
‘Nothing has changed at all, it’s still covered in vehicles and earth banks,’ he said this week. ‘Planning assured me they would take further action and I’m intrigued to see what that will be.’
Mr Dodd, who is a member of Guernsey Trees for Life, said his group, along with the National Trust and La Societe, had requested a meeting with the new planning committee.
‘We have had initial conversations with Neil Inder [new DPA president] and have now formally requested a meeting,’ he said.
‘Pre-emptive clearing seems to be going on a bit too much.’
The Guernsey Press contacted the DPA and Civils, the company carrying out the work, which is based in Kent, for comment.
No response had been received by the time of publication.
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