The entrance to land at La Marette Road, L’Islet, for which Housing minister Dave Jones has applied for a change of use to industrial, sparking criticism from neighbours. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0841806)
THE owner of a skip company said he has been using for more than 25 years a field at L’Islet that was turned into a contractor’s yard without permission.
Angry residents of La Marette Road, St Sampson’s, went public last week after the owner of the field, Housing minister Dave Jones, submitted a retrospective planning application.
They said that Deputy Jones was abusing his position by turning the field into a contractor’s yard before applying for planning permission.
But Mick Cummins, of Mick Cummins Skip Hire, came forward to say that he has been using the field for his business for more than two decades.
‘I have always got on with my neighbours and that is all I have got to say,’ said Mr Cummins, declining to make any further comment.
Deputy Jones was on holiday when the story broke, but yesterday responded to his critics.
‘I have not demolished any greenhouses on this site as there were no greenhouses on it when I bought the site,’ he said.
‘The site is zoned as agricultural, not green belt as has been stated. The equipment on the site is classed as agricultural equipment and I have not broken any planning laws as I am entitled, just like everyone else, to apply for change of use of a particular site.
‘Ten feet away from this site is a well-established skip business and digger business which has operated from this site for years.’
Deputy Jones added that opposite the site, approximately 20ft away, a marquee business operated from a large warehouse built only a few years ago.
‘You would think that as a deputy I suddenly lose all rights to do anything. There are several retrospective applications in the Environment list every year. Mine is just one of them.’
Neighbours said the road was a Ruette Tranquille, where priority should be given to pedestrians, cyclists and horses and that having large vehicles passing through was dangerous.
Concerns that oil was being stored in a water catchment area were also raised.
Director of water services Andrew Redhead said that Guernsey Water had last week carried out a site inspection.
He said the applicant had been made aware that a permit would be required under pollution prevention laws.
‘Guernsey Water raises no objection to this application, although the site is situated in close proximity to a controlled stream within the Vale Pond catchment,’ said Mr Redhead.
He said the inspectors had found drums locked in a cage and bunded and therefore safe.
There were two drums waiting for disposal and there were a few in a shed that were going to be made safe.
‘We do police these things and we have the power to protect the water supply,’ he said.
The Environment Department declined to comment on the planning application and neighbours’ concerns.
Article posted on 15th September, 2009 - 2.29pm
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