Jeweller Catherine Best, who has lived in the area all her life, is leading the Save Steam Mill Lanes campaign against proposals to designate nearby Regency Vinery for housing under the Island Development Plan review.
She said she was shocked by how many neighbouring residents were unaware of the proposals and feared that deputies did not fully grasp the implications.
‘I don’t think they have a total understanding of what’s going on,’ she said.
‘Because for one, it was under St Peter Port, which is incorrect. And secondly, they’re obviously very busy people. I felt it was best that they were educated before they came to the debate. There’s also a lot of people who live very close in the vicinity that I’ve bumped into that don’t even have a clue that this is happening.’
The group’s six-page letter urges deputies to reject the proposal from the Development & Planning Authority to zone the site as a priority affordable housing allocation, which could take up to nearly 40 homes. It argues that the site has been wrongly characterised as an unkempt vinery.
‘It is an area of wooded natural beauty leading into a diminishing farmland landscape enjoyed by walkers, horse riders and cyclists,’ the letter states.
‘The site should revert back to a greenfield designation.’
Mrs Best said road safety was the biggest concern, particularly the narrow lane and its junction with Rue Poudreuse.
‘We already as residents struggle to get onto the main road,’ she said.
‘There’s been numerous crashes since they’ve closed Fort Road.’
The letter warns that the two-way lane is barely wide enough for one vehicle.
‘Increased traffic is unsustainable, will cause unacceptable disruption and poses very serious road safety issues,’ it states.
Mrs Best also questioned how the development would be served by drainage infrastructure.
‘We tried to get main drain a year ago, and were told that there was no room for our houses to go on main drain. So tell me how 39 houses can go on main drain?’
She fears additional surface water could worsen flooding in the valley below.
While acknowledging the island’s need for housing, she argued that existing derelict sites should be prioritised as a resolution.
‘We’ve got loads of derelict sites,’ she said.
‘They should certainly be looking at filling empty properties before they go and take really nice green fields. Because we’re going to ruin Guernsey.’
The letter also questions why the St Martin’s site has been designated as part of the St Peter Port centre.
Mrs Best said several deputies had already acknowledged the letter, although none had yet arranged to visit the area.
‘I want them to look at it, look at what they’re about to ruin.’
She said the campaign would continue raising awareness among residents ahead of the States debate.
‘We’re going to fight it because I love Guernsey.
‘And I don’t want to see another part of it ruined.’
The proposals from the DPA seek to create nine new priority areas for affordable housing, along with several other changes to the IDP.
They are due to be debated by the States at the end of next month.
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