ONE of the more bizarre cases to go before the Royal Court is Treasury and Resources’ attempt to evict Cable and Wireless from its La Vrangue premises and seek the destruction of its £7m. data centre in what appears to be a row over who said what to whom and whether the centre was properly authorised.

Whatever the merits of the case, which are still to be determined by the court, islanders will be puzzled that a planning application approved by a States department can provoke another department into saying it knew nothing about it.

The matter has added interest since Public Services is now blaming Environment for airport contractor Lagan Construction not being able to accommodate its men at the Forest Water Tower and Longue Hougue.

That, too, is perplexing. One can only hope that those behind the airport project did some homework to ensure that the planning process can ultimately allow an £80m. development to go ahead, otherwise there will be considerable embarrassment caused when that, too, is rejected.

Since, however, the use of imported labour is central to Lagan’s plans and its contract pricing, it is reasonable to think that it might have discussed with PSD where it could put 150 men, who will be working night shifts, and who will need adequate facilities.

Perhaps Lagan simply felt housing its men alongside heaps of aggregate at Longue Hougue was a good plan and never thought to question any planning – or health and safety – implications. Equally, is it more likely that a UK contractor with no local experience would discuss such things with its client, especially one working so closely with it to minimise costs?

Whatever happened, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that officers in two departments in the same building didn’t even meet at the water cooler and say, ‘if we wanted to do X would that be possible?’

Environment attracts enough criticism of its own making without being blamed for existing planning zones, which are a matter of record.

The real loser in this, however, is the States. Yet again, circumstances that appear readily avoidable, highlight how unjoined up things can be.