THE Confederation of Guernsey Industry has stressed the need for planning to make provision for the future. At the close of the draft Rural Area Plan inquiry yesterday, the CGi asked for more flexibility to be drawn into it.

It was also concerned about the amount of time any future changes to the Strategic and Corporate Plan would take to filter through.

‘I’m pleased to hear it can be amended by the States, but it’s very much like turning a supertanker around and in today’s fast-moving economy, it is prejudicial for Guernsey’s economy,’ said chairman Jonathon David.

Representing 80 diverse companies, the confederation wanted the Environment Department to be given discretion to locate industry in the rural area.

But planning inspector Peter Robottom warned that its suggested clause would allow anywhere to be considered.

‘I think that’s a problem regardless of anything the Environment Department has to say,’ he said.

Mr David argued that more provision needed to be made for hi-tech and knowledge industries.

He also said grey industries, such as builders’ yards, were being forced out of the urban area by rent and lease conditions.

The confederation also believed the land use class ordinance of 1991 was no longer suitable for the needs of industry.

Representing the department, Damon Hackley said the policies were designed to fit in with States guidelines under the Strategic and Corporate Plan.

‘We do not have any evidence at this stage to support the argument that industrial development necessarily requires a rural location.’

He added that the Urban Area Plan had set out key industrial sites and also made provision for small workshops and yards.

The Commerce and Employment Department offered its support to the policies earlier in the inquiry.

But it did suggest comprehensive research was required to discover if more land was needed.

‘If a revised approach was required, it would need to be embedded within a revised Strategic and Corporate Plan.’