Rare green space in built-up north should be protected

How can half an acre of land in St Sampson’s, designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance until less than two years ago, now be up for sale for £585,000 as a potential development site?

This does not look like a successful and positive example of nature conservation in action.

We hear many nature conservation success stories in the Guernsey Press, the splendid activities being taken to look after our island, but this does not look like one of them.

Here in St Sampson’s we look set to lose yet another piece of our precious green land.

Under the old Island Development Plan this was a Site of Nature Conservation Importance but in autumn 2016, when the new Island Development Plan was put in place by our current deputies, this site and many others lost their superior protective nature conservation status.

Water’s Rocque, a tranquil undisturbed area, close to a flooded quarry, became an Area of Biodiversity Importance. You would perhaps think this was just a change of name, with very similar protections in place – but that is not the case.

Under the new Island Development Plan, development, residential or otherwise, can now take place on Areas of Biodiversity Importance with far less onerous conditions to be met than previously.

This loss of protection, coupled with the fact that this particular half acre of land lies within the St Sampson’s main centre outer boundary means it has no chance of surviving as a nature conservation area.

This is clearly reflected in the estate agent’s sale particulars and the asking price of £585,000. I am so disappointed that the area of St Sampson’s in which I live is to lose yet another green space.

Surely, an Area of Biodiversity Importance in an otherwise built up, populated and heavy traffic area should be given even more protection, not less?

HELEN HUNTER

The Dingle,

Rue des Monts,

Delancey,

St Sampson’s