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A planning inspector is deciding if a seasonal restaurant should be allowed to open in a remote part of St Ouen.
La Petite Robeline – which is a farmstead in Rue des Bonnes Femmes, which overlooks Mont Pinel leading down to L’Etacq – received retrospective planning permission in April to turn a cider-making barn and external courtyard into a 40-cover restaurant between 1 April and 3 September on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
However, permission was appealed by neighbour Ray Hedges, who raised concerns about the detail of the application, particularly over parking, noise and light pollution, provision for sewage and wastewater, and the application’s planning history.
Richard and Sarah Matlock, who produce cider at the site over the winter, ran the seasonal restaurant successfully through 2021, mistakenly believing that they did not need planning permission to extend the cider processing shed and change the use of an existing outbuilding.
They then sought retrospective approval, which was refused last May by the Planning Committee, specifically over concerns about a plan to create a new access into a field close to the site by knocking down a section of granite wall.
Mr and Mrs Matlock submitted a new application last June, proposing a park-and-ride scheme from Les Laveurs car park, which is opposite Jersey Pearl at the northern end of the Five Mile Road.
Pictured: La Petite Robeline is at the end of a small lane overlooking Mont Pinel in St. Ouen.
Drivers would park there and be picked up and dropped off for each evening’s single sitting by an electric taxi organised by the restaurant.
Permission was granted in November, subject to Mr and Mrs Matlock entering into a legally binding agreement with Planning obliging them to close the restaurant should cider making stop at any time.
Approval was granted principally on the basis that the applicants had addressed the reason for refusal given by the committee.
On Monday this week, Mr Hedges’ appeal was heard by independent planning inspector Sue Bell.
The appellant's planning consultant, Stephanie Steedman, argued that the 'traffic and site access assessment' submitted by Mr and Mrs Matlock lacked detail and “did not provide reassurance that there will not be problems in the future”.
“My client is extremely concerned how enforceable this travel plan is,” she said.
Mrs Matlock responded that she did recognise that there had been problems with parking in the past, but this had now been resolved with the park and ride scheme.
Customers had to book, she said, and each one was told that there was no parking on site. Diners – who were mostly returning guests – were strongly encouraged to walk or cycle,” she added.
“We have bent over backwards to do what we can; we want our neighbours to be supportive,” she said.
The planning inspector will publish her decision on the appeal at a later date.
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