‘We can’t apply common sense when considering applications’
Wednesday 22nd June 2011, 1:00PM BST.
PLANNING officers cannot apply common sense when making a decision to approve or refuse applications, the Environment minister has said.
And Deputy Peter Sirett says there is no way the law would be changed to allow for it.
He was speaking after islanders recently criticised how the department came to planning decisions.
A common complaint has been a perceived lack of common sense with regards to developments.
‘At the end of the day we have to go strictly by the law,’ Deputy Sirett (pictured) said.
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Deputy Sirett
If a certain section of the Environment law is an ass then as Environment Minister it is surely your job to present proposals to the Assembly to correct that error
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….oh how I wish he had not been smirking in that photo!!!
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They can’t apply common sense as they don’t have any!
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Actually, thats a load of old cobblers.
How many times do we here the phrase “not in keeping with the environment” when planning refusals are dished out?
Surely there is no prescriptive law that says what is and what isnt “in keeping”?
If there was such a law then every single building in Guernsey would be the same.
No there is definately a gap where common sense could fit into this, PS is just backing his under fire department by refusing to acknowledge it.
And anyway, by feeling he needs to come out with this comment, he is accepting that the process isnt perfect. I was under the impression that deputies had the power to change things for the better, if they dont then why bother having them at all!
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“Politician admits to not using common sense!”
Not really news worthy this is it??
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Nice one Mr G couldn’t agree more.
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One of the ‘old guard’, smirking as usual, and admitting to ‘those he commands’
not having any interest in applying common sense to what is a very important issue to the many. Roll on 2012 when we can hopefully have a good ‘clearout’ of the dusty and dreary rabble in the States.
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What rubbish Peter Sirett! The new planning law is drafted in such a way as the planners can never be wrong, only mistaken, whatever they decide.
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Hopefully common sense will prevail when election time comes around.
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If we accept that pretty much all building here in the islands, and in the UK, has been undertaken with the consent of planners and planning committees then surely they are fully culpable for the vast number of simply pug ugly developments, towns and cities that we have to endure?
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The civil service is run in such a way that common sense is frowned upon.
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Oh boy!
Just fancy that, a minister telling us what we already knew.
They are not capable of running a runner bean let alone an Island.
Do the decent thing and resign,
We need people WITH ‘common sense’.
People Of Guernsey (Guernsey people) get out at next VOTING time
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This whole thread seems to be based on taking what Sirrett has said out of context (and some classic weasel words from the Press – ‘a common complaint has been…’)
Of course Planning does apply common sense in its decisions – the policies and laws pertaining to Planning contain plenty enough grey to do so.
As an administrative body, Planning is also required to ensure its decisions are made in accordance with natural justice (legalese for common sense).
It’s hard to say without having heard the whole interview, but I imagine what Sirrett means is simply that the Planning department is required by the States to implement Planning law and policies which very clearly prohibit certain developments, and it can’t just ignore those restrictions at will.
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Having been to a couple of planning appeals recently it is quite obvious that common sense is not within the laws. It is something that is absent from most areas of government. The GP will I am sure be publishing the results shortly and hopefully along with a couple of cracking statements that were made!
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I love the way they say they are following the law. You ask to build a house on your land they say no, so you sell the land. Then the new owners build six houses. The law must say you did not ask for enough. You ask to change a small area of light industrial to retail they say no we can’t afford to loose light industrial units, yet a large company over here has changed a whole load of industrial units into retail. That one must be a real interesting law.
It would also seem the law is against small wood structures such as garden sheds, fences and even granite is out of place in Guernsey. The planning laws are a guide they are made to protect the Environment along with stopping people getting carried away and upsetting the neighbors. Unfortunately the Environment Department lacks the ability to see this as they do not have any common sense they treat what they do as a business and inteperate the law the way they want. This is why so often the shed, fence, sign and even small business applications are rejected. While this continues the glass and concrete buildings will still rise. Green land will still slowly disappear and Small business will continue to close while the large companies continue to monopolize. Finally the humble garden shed will remain public enemy number one for the Environment Department I do feel that they should get educated in the in the ways of island life and to understand what their job is. First lesson how to implement common sense.
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Well, Peter…if the law does not abide by the factor of ‘common sense’ the law must be wrong !
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Don’t worry folks – we will soon have an opportunity to elect eputies who are able to exercise common sense – I only hope that those who will control the “imported planners” will supervise what our no so covil servants are up to! Guernsey (still) under the jack-boot!
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I sincerely hope that Deputy Sirett reads the comments here. If he ever gets re-elected after a comment like that, I’ll eat my beret.
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I’ve said it before on this forum and I’ll say it again, “Common sense is n’t all that common. My old Gran was right,when she taught me this, many years ago,unfortunately it is a problem with both sexes not just the male.Let’s see if we can all make a difference come the next election
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A.J.
My old Gran used to say ‘You can take a horse to water but a pencil must be led’
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So planners can’t apply common sense when considering planning applications.
Well, we are talking Guernsey here. I rest my case.
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