Develop Leale’s Yard before greenfield sites

As a born and bred Guernsey resident I am extremely concerned about the development of seemingly every little green space in the north of the island. We should be preserving what little areas we have left instead of losing them to urban spread, just because nothing has happened about developing Leale’s Yard.

The trouble is, the planners are acting upon the conditions set out in the Island Development Plan regarding development in urban areas. This is all very well and does make sense to some degree. However, the problem is that they look at each site in isolation whereas the whole area needs to be considered.

The site recently approved in Tertre Lane and those in Hure Mare and the field opposite Alliance fall into the urban area plan and as such are possible for development. If they meet the guidelines then the planners can do little but approve the scheme unless there is substantial opposition. But developing them spoils further the north of the island by losing the few open spaces left in the area one by one.

All the while, Leale’s Yard sits there doing nothing for anyone and nothing is happening with it.

Building on these aforementioned sites should be banned and only re-visited when Leale’s Yard has been completely developed. Unless this happens, developers will build on the greenfield sites and this will mean less incentive for the development of Leale’s Yard. And then where will we be – completely built up but with a huge great unsightly wasteland in the middle.

Something has to be put in place by the politicians and the IDP changed immediately to specify that no further development of greenfield sites should take place until Leale’s Yard is finished. The politicians and the planners need to change the plans for the Leale’s Yard area so it is feasible for the Co-op to have developers develop parts of the scheme. Whether this means putting in some infrastructure or allowing piecemeal development, the government needs to enable this to happen.

Clearly there is a demand from developers to build in the area. This has to be forced somehow away from greenfield sites and on to Leale’s Yard and needs to happen now.

If the population of Guernsey were asked their opinion on who wants to see the corner field on Roseland Road (opposite Alliance) developed, only the developer would put up their hand. But for Leale’s Yard I would imagine just about everyone would put up their hands.

So please, let’s make this happen for the benefit of the whole island.

LINDA LE CONTE,

Southview,

Oatlands Lane,

St Sampson’s.