This Is Guernsey

By Nigel Baudains

The field overlooking Rocquaine which Tara de Jersey and D’Arcy Brimson want to turn into a summer campsite. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0640943)

NEIGHBOURS are opposing plans to create a summer campsite at a vinery overlooking Fort Grey.

Landowners Tara de Jersey and D’Arcy Brimson want to put 12 tents in three fields from March to September each year. The site is accessed via a green lane from near the bottom of Route du Coudre.

They want to take down 40ft of greenhouse and build a block for washing and toilet facilities. One neighbour, John de Garis, said he feared that the plans could be a precursor to development and that the application sounded hollow.

‘We are confident that this will never get off the ground, but if it did, it could have disastrous significance. It’s a fantasy suggesting that everybody who uses it will use buses or bikes. They are already asking for eight parking spaces.’

Mr de Garis is one of several neighbours opposed to the plans.

They feel the area is a bastion of Guernsey and fear it could be another example of creeping development.

‘Three years ago those greenhouses were full of organic produce,’ said Mr de Garis.

A former greenhouse site to the north of Route du Coudre was now a housing clos, he said.

The proposed tents would be ‘yurt’ style – circular with perpendicular sides and conical tops.

The applicants claim the campsite would complement and conserve the land and environment and enhance existing tourism in the area.

They say the aim would be to match the growing trend of simple living and that it would be an environmentally sustainable business that would complement existing farming and agricultural activities.

They said the application was not the thin end of a wedge and, if approved, would not lead to further development.

‘We do not intend to have any concrete buildings, tarmac roads, car parks, industrial fencing, swimming pools or any other such thing on our land,’ said Mr Brimson.

The site is already fed by electricity and water and has a toilet.

The couple said they intended to compost much of the waste and look to using alternative sources of energy.

Dean of the St Peter’s Douzaine Martin Ozanne said letters had been received from several people opposed to the proposal.

The Environment Department had sent details of the application to the douzaine.

‘We have asked Environment not to make a decision until we have discussed the matter and are in a position to make a formal response,’ he said.

On Monday, the douzaine will  sit for the first time following the summer recess and the matter will be discussed then.

Article posted on 16th September, 2008 - 1.00pm