DPA must not allow any further loss of agricultural land
THE headline in the Guernsey Press of 21 August read ‘DPA in move to stop more farming land becoming part of domestic gardens’.
I was delighted to read this. At least they are going to stop this stupidity of allowing agricultural land to become domestic gardens.
Unfortunately, this is not what the authority intended to do.
The DPA is saying that the loss of agricultural land is OK providing the applicant can provide necessary information on the biodiversity enhancement of such a development.
Deputy Oliver, the DPA political members and the planners themselves have totally missed the point.
Loss of agricultural land means just that – it is lost to our farmers and the dairy industry, depriving them of valuable land to grow crops for fodder and graze their livestock.
Just in the last two weeks, applications to the DPA for change of use from agriculture to domestic gardens make shocking reading.
If these applications are granted then a further 6,064sq. m will be taken from agriculture.
This is not good enough, the DPA must not allow any further loss of agricultural land.
JANINE LE SAUVAGE
Meadow View
Les Hubits de Bas
St Martin’s
GY4 6NB