Gov objects to proposed Grouville pétanque court over traffic concerns

Sunday 01 August 2021

Grouville pétanque players are pushing to get their very own parish playing ground - but the Government is attempting to block the development over traffic concerns.

A planning application has been put forward by Constable John Le Maistre to change the use of the Parish's Yard from agriculture to create the court, located to the north of the land.

The plans would see a 15m x 15m pétanque square put in the centre of the area, and would also include 17m of new hedges, parking space for 20 cars, and three new oak trees.

Pictured: The application was put forward by Grouville Parish Constable John Le Maistre.

The Grouville Pétanque Club has voiced its support for the new development, writing to the Planning Department and explaining that the space it offers is much-needed for the club. 

“…Pétanque has been a growing sport in the island for some time and now every Parish has their own team. With the exception of Grouville, all parishes have their own terrain,” the group states.

“Grouville currently uses a small terrain at Holme Grown which is not sufficient for the numbers we now attract and is of course privately owned. 

“Unfortunately due to the topography of the parish and the amount of protected common land which exists it has been difficult to identify as suitable site for the parish to have their own terrain.”

Pictured: All public comments so far have been positive towards the development.

“Having now acquired a parcel of land immediately adjacent to the parish yard, the parish believes this would be a suitable site for a terrain”, the statement adds, noting that it would also be “a useful extension” for building the Battle of Flowers float.

The six comments currently on the planning application echo this enthusiasm, with one commenter saying a pétanque court would be an “asset to the residents of Grouville”, and another stating it would “improve the area enormously with sympathetic natural landscaping.”

However, the Government's Infrastructure, Housing and Environment (IHE) Department is pushing for the plans to be rejected.

IHE have submitted a letter to planning saying that allowing such a development would see an “intensification” of the site, and that the visibility splays do not meet the Department’s standards for a 40mph area.

They conclude that the plans should not be accepted on this basis, but note that, if the Parish provides “traffic speed survey data, the Department will review their comments.”

The application remains under consideration.