PLANNING decisions are about policies set in law and not personal preferences, Environment minister Peter Sirett has said.

More than 800 people have signed Robin Penna and Rob McGhee’s petition aimed at eliminating ‘eyesore’ developments on sensitive sites.

Mr Penna said he doubted the problem would have arisen in the days when Tom Ogier was Island Development Committee president.

‘We wouldn’t want to go back to too much political interference in the planning process but we want more specific guidance given to planning officers on what is acceptable and what is not,’ he said.

Deputy Sirett (pictured) said it was interesting to note that the petition had shown that most people were not against modern architecture but had concerns over its use in certain contexts.

‘Design arouses passionate feelings – but architectural taste will always have a subjective element,’ he said. ‘No doubt all of us, including the petitioners, have buildings we like and others we don’t much like – and our lists will be different.’

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