Field important despite what planners think

Despite a long battle entailing repeated objections and a well-supported petition the developers may have won their war of attrition, partly because every time there is even a slight adjustment to their plans everyone has to write another letter of objection.

The core of my objections in July 2019, when I wrote to the Guernsey Press, has not changed.

I wrote:

‘This little field is a breath of fresh air, a “lung” and a welcome splash of green in a built-up area. Just because people live in a built-up area does not mean that they do not deserve or value the enhanced quality of life presented by a few trees as much as people in more rural areas. Surely this is the reason for the existence of parks in cities.

‘This junction, situated on one of the busiest roads in Guernsey, with a blind corner to the west, is already confused and dangerous. There is often congestion caused by cars entering from La Bailloterie, Mares Pellees and the industrial estate. The proposal to build any houses on this junction will obscure the view for motorists and add to the quantity of traffic.’

What’s more, at the recent open planning meeting the view was expressed by the panel that the design of the houses was not in keeping with surrounding buildings, which was dismissed by the planners as being subjective.

The planners considered that they were in keeping, which surely was equally subjective.

The pendulum, it seems to me, has swung too far.

In my youth, planning decisions in Guernsey were based on personal opinions and subjective views of beauty. Now planners consider they have, by law, to be ultimately obedient to a line on a map.

If these two houses are built, despite all the developers’ talk of hedgehog and bat boxes and ‘landscaping’, the field will disappear.

This little field with its trees, green grass and annual show of daffodils is, in fact ‘important

open land’ for Vale residents.

JANE SMITHIES,

La Haize,

Vale.