WHENEVER Environment, particularly in the planning department, makes itself look daft, one of the regular commentators on this newspaper’s sister website forum has a simple response.

He lists the politicians, as he puts it, ‘in control’, and invites islanders to show their appreciation next April, when the general election will be held. It is a vivid illustration of how poorly regarded the department is.

In some respects, the political board has achieved something remarkable. Few had a good word for the former Island Development Committee. It was the States body everyone loved to hate and it was acknowledged that urgent steps had to be taken to get the planning process back on its feet and instil some efficiency and credibility into the process.

A lot of work has gone into that and much good – and transparency – has emerged. But…

When the political team on Environment is finally replaced after the election, the verdict of islanders will be that it was actually worse than the old IDC. Maligned it might have been, but it did not reject common sense. And it knew what incongruous meant.

For many, the last straw for the credibility of the political board was the rejection of a floating restaurant at Beaucette Marina.

That lost out to the planning zealots on the basis of whether a restaurant was acceptable in principle (why on earth not?) and on the other obstacle that it was a retail outlet.

Had planners viewed it as a coastal kiosk – ‘a unique form of facility providing simple food…’ – there wouldn’t have been a problem but they chose to regard it as the same as a shop competing with the viability of Town and the Bridge.

In other words, there is plenty of wiggle room and a political board that ignores health advice on mobile phone masts because it doesn’t suit their own prejudices could have insisted on some common sense being applied.

Except the minister doesn’t believe in it.

As a result, putting a barge in a marina has been banned and a fun new facility denied islanders and visitors.

If ever a mean-spirited decision should be appealed it is this one.