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The Constable of Grouville has withdrawn his proposal to rezone three fields bordering protected marshland in the Parish for affordable homes.
John Le Maistre had lodged an amendment to the Bridging Island Plan to add ‘Field G234 and adjacent land’ to the list of sites for housing.
However, he met strong opposition from his own parishioners, particularly those who highlighted the fields’ proximity to Grouville marsh, and the impact buildings on them would have on drainage, biodiversity and wildlife corridors connecting green spaces in the area.
Yesterday, at the start of the BIP debate, States Members were notified of which amendments had been withdrawn, and it included Mr Le Maistre’s.
Following a parish assembly last Thursday – which overwhelmingly called on the Constable to withdraw his amendment – Mr Le Maistre said he would have a “weekend of soul-searching” as young parishioners needed homes.
Pictured: The fields are behind the De La Mare Nursery site off Rue à Don. Credit: Google Maps.
He had hoped that proposing a 15m ‘environment buffer zone’ of vegetation around the fields would mitigate the impact of housing on the nearby wetlands but this was rejected as inadequate by environmental groups.
The fields, which are to the rear of the existing housing development behind the Co-op in Rue à Don, had been identified by a parish committee which had been set up to look for housing sites. It was thought they could provide around 40 homes.
There remains one Grouville field – ‘G392A’, which is close to Verona Stores - on the Environment Minister’s ‘Plan A’ list of affordable homes’ sites, and Deputy Scott Wickenden has proposed an amendment rezoning fields close to Holme Grown.
Meanwhile, Grouville Deputy Carolyn Labey has proposed an amendment which calls for G392A to be taken off the Minister’s list.
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