MORE consultation could take place on the future of the Belgrave Vinery site before a draft outline planning brief is published. A leaflet showing initial concepts for the housing target area was released at the start of the month.

The comment period closed at the end of last week and 20 individuals and organisations took part.

‘We’re assessing the comments we’ve received so far. A lot of people said they would be interested in seeing more detailed information,’ said an Environment Department spokesman.

‘Now we really have to think about how we present that next level of detail and involve people in that.’

The department is expected to prepare a brief at the end of August.

‘To do the comments justice and allow sufficient time to consider additional details and have further input, we have to reconsider that.’

A decision will be made after a report is presented to the department next week.

‘A lot of the comments have been very constructive, positive and encouraging and we think the consultation has been very worthwhile in helping us think about where we go next,’ said the spokesman.

Concerns, particularly about traffic, were raised in the Guernsey Press by St Sampson’s deputies but these were not passed to the department.

‘Traffic and drainage have been studied in great detail over many years to get to this point. It’s very difficult to convey this in a way meaningful to people,’ said the spokesman.

It could consider a manned exhibition or a meeting to convey this message.

Organisations which have submitted comments include the St Sampson’s constables, La Societe Guernesiaise and Guernsey Electricity.

Letters were also received from landowners and residents in Victoria Avenue.

‘The reaction generally has been very positive and encouraging; only one or two people are strongly opposed to any development at all.’

Support has been given to landscape aspects and cycling and pedestrian routes.

‘Nothing has really emerged that we weren’t addressing or aware of previously; one or two people have suggested uses that go to support housing.’

These include facilities such as a pharmacy, grocery, youth cafe and work units.

La Societe sent a study to the department as part of the process.

‘One thing we did say was that we thought the consultation period was too short; it was only two weeks really and the area has been idle for more than 20 years,’ said La Societe president David Le Conte.

‘We just thought more time should be given to the process and if the department is thinking about more consultation, I think that’s a good thing.’

He said that it was a large area with environmentally important parts which had been taken into account.